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2SL . .•^- '^^^^.

;-!«<Sfc?Jjis!:sf«

1

■ ■ -"

J<f

t

> II I ■ <ll

THE

Castle of Otranto,

GOTHIC STORY.

I I .III I fc

^.r

/

THE

Castle of Otranto,

GOTHIC STORY.

Vatki

Fingmtur /pedes ^ tamen ut Pes^ 6? Cafut uni
Reddantur forma. ■

HOR.

^

THE THIRD EDITION.

LONDON:
Piinted for William Bathoe in the Strand.

■■t-Mfc

M.DCC.LXVI.

s-

PREFACE

To the Firft Edition.

THE following work was found in the
hbrary of an ancient Catholic famil/
in the north of England. It was printed at
Naples^ in the black letter, in the year 1529.
How much fooner k was written does not
appear. The principal incidents are fucb
as were believed in the darkeft ages of
Chriftianity; but the language and con-
duft have nothing that favours of barba-*
rifm. The ffile is the pureft Itaiian. If
the ftory was written near the time when
it is fuppofed to have happened, it muft
have been between 1095;^ the a^ra of the
firft crufade, and 1 243, the date ol the laft,
or not long afterwards* There is no other
circumftance in the work, that can lead us
to gucfs at tlie period in which the fcene is
laid : The names of the aflors are evidently
fiftitious, and probably difguifed on pur-
pofe : Yet the Spani/b names of the domef-
tics feem to indicate that this work was nx>i:

A 3 compo&4>

t v^ J

compofedj until the-^ cftablifhment ©f the
j4rragonian . Kings in Naples had made Spa^^
fiifh appellations familiar in that country.
The beauty of the diftion, and the zeal of
the author [moderated, however by An-
gular judgment] concur to make me think
that the date of the compofition was little
antecedent to that of the impreffion. Let-
ters were then in their moft flourifhing ftatc
in Italy^ and contributed to difpel the em-
pire of fuperftition, at that time fo forcibly
attacked by the reformers. It is not un-
likely that an artful prieft might endeavour
tp turn their own arms on the innovators ;
and might avail himfelf of his abilities as
^li author to confirm the populace in their
ancient errors and fuperftirions. If this
was his view, he has certainly afted with
fignal addrefs. Such a work as the follow-
ing would enflave a hundred vulgar minds
beyond half the books of controverfy that:
havb been written from the days oi Luther
to the prefent hour.

This folution of the author's motiv.es is
however offered as a mere conjecture.
Whatever his views were, or whatever ef--
fe<fts the execution of them might have,:
his work can only be laid before the publico

. * - - * at

r vii }

9t prefent as a matter of cntertainttient.
£v<n as fuch, fome apology for it is ne-
ceifary. Miracles, vifions, necromancy,
dreams, and other preternatural events, are
exploded now even from romances. That
was not the cafe when our author wrote ;
much kfs when the ftory itfelf is fuppofed
to have happened. Belief in every kind of
prodigy was fo eilabliihed in thofe dark
ages, that an author would not be faithful
to the manners of the times, who (hould
omit all mention of them. He is not
bound to believe them himfelf, but he mult
repreient his a&ors as believing them.

If this air of ihe miraculous is excufed, the
reader will find nothing elfe unworthy of
his perufal. Allow the poiTibility of the
fadls, and all the adors comport themfelves
as perfons would do in their fituation.
There is no bombaft, no fimilies, flowers,
digrefllons, or unneceiTary defcriptions. £*
very thing tends dire<flly to the cataftrophe.
Never is the reader's attention relaxed^
The rules of the drama are almoft obferved
throughout the condud of the piece. The
charaders are well drawn, and ftiU better,
maintained. Terror,, the author's principal
engine, prevents the ftory from ever lan-

A +, guilhingi

gUifliing ; and il is fo often contraft^d by
pity, that the mind i^ kept up in a conftanc
viciffitude of imcrcfting paflions.

Some perfons may perhaps think the cha-
rafters of the domeftics too little ferious for
the general caft of the ftory •, but befidcs
their oppofition to the principal perfonages,
the art of the author is very obfervable in
his conduft of the fubalterns. They diC?
cover many paflages effential to the ftory,
which could not be well brought to light
but by their naiveie and fimplicity : In
particular, the womanifti terror and iFoibles
of Bianca^ in the laft chapter, conduce ^f-
fentially towards advancing the cataftrophe.

It is natural for a tranflator to be preju-
diced in favour of his adopted wqrk. More
impartial readers may not be fo much ftruck
with the beauties of this piece as I was.
Yet I am not blind to my author's defeds.
I could wi(h he bad grounded his plan on a
more ufeful moral than this ; that the fins
9f fathers are vifited on their children to the
third and fourth generation. I doubt whe-
ther, in his time,' any niore than at prefent,
ambition curbed its appetite of dominion
from the dread of fo remote a punifh-
•ment. ' And yet this moral is weakened by

that

[ i^ ]

that lefs direct infiniaadon, than even fuch
aaathenna may be diverted by devocion to
St. Nicholas. Here the inttrett cf the Monk
plainly, gets the better of the judgment 6f
the Author. However, with all its faults,
I have no doubt but the Englijb reader wiU
be pkafed with a fight of this performance.
The piety that reigns throughout, the kf-
fons of virtue that are inculcated, and the
rigid purity of the fentiments, exempt thi?
work fron:i the cenfure to which romances
are bat too liable. Should it meet with
the fuccefs I hope for, I may Ipe encouraged
to re-r print the original Italian^ .though ic
will tend to depreciate my own labour.
Our language falls far fliort of the charms
of the Italian^ both for variety and har-f
Riony. The latter is peculiarly excellent
for fimple narrative. It is difficult in Eng-r
ijh ta relate without falling tod low or riling
too high ; a fault obvioufly occafioned by
the little care taken to fpeak pure language
in common converfation. IB^xtrf Italian ox
Frenchman of any rank piques himl'elf on
fpeaking his own tongue corredly and with
choice. I cannot flatter mvfclf with hav-r
ing done juftice to my author in this rt-
%d : His .ftile is as elegant, as his con-
dud

duA of the paflions is mafterly. It is pity
that he did not apply his talents to whac
they were evidently proper for, the theatre.
I will detain the reader no longer, but
to make one fhort remark. Though the
machinery is invention, and the names of
the aftors imaginary, I cannot but believe,
that the ground- work of the ftory is founded
on truth. The fcene is undoubtedly laid in
fome real caftle. The author fecms frc*
quently, without defign, to defcribe par.-
ticular parts. The chamber^ fays he, (m
the right-hand \ the doer on the left- hand i the
dijtance from the chapel to ConradV apart-*
went : Iheie and other pafTages are ftrong
prefumptions that the author had fome cer-
tain building in his eye. Curious perfons,
who have Icifure to employ in fuch re-
fearchcs, may poflibly difcover in the Ita--
Uan writers the foundation on which our
author has built. If a cataftrophe, at all
refcmbling that which he defcribes, is be-
lieved to have given rife to this work, it
will contribute to intcreft the reader, and
will make the caftle of Otranto a ftill more
moving ftory.

SONNET

SONNET

To the Right Honorable

4

Lady Mary Coke*

THE gentle Maid, whofc haplefs tak
Thefc melancholy pages fpeak ;
Say, gracious Lady, (hall Ihe fail
To draw the tear adown thy cheek ?

No; never was thy pitying breaft
Infcnfible to human woes ;
Tender, thb* firm, it melts diftreft
For weakncffcs it never knows.

Oh ! guard the marvels I relate
Of fell ambition fcourg'd by face.
From reafon's peevifh blame.

Blcftwith thy fmile, my dauntlefs fail
I dare expand to Fancy's gale.
For furc thy fmiles arc Fame.

/ /

ft - -^

t ^ I

■•"Wf

P R E F A C E

To the Secoad Edition^

TH E favourable mamier in which this
little piece has been received by the
public, calls upon the author to explain
the grounds on which he compofed it. But
before he opens thofe motives, it is fit that
he fhould afk pardon of his readers for
having ofiercd his work to them under the
borrowed perfonage of a tranflator. As
diiBden'ce of his own abilities, and the no-
velty of the attempt, were his fole induce-
ments to aflume that difguife, he flatters
himfelf he fhall appear excufeablc. He re-
figned his performance to the impartial judg*
Oient of the public ^ determined to let it

perifh

[ x'^'-- 1

tl

perifti in obfcurity, if difappraved •, ndf
meaning to avow fuch a trifle, imlefs bet-
ierjy4ge« (hould pronounce. that he might,
own it withoura blufh.

It was an attempt to blend the two kinds
of Romance, the ancient and the modera^.
In the former, all was imagination and im<^
probability : in the latter, nature is always
intended to be, and fometimcs has been,
copied with fucccfs. Invention has not
been wanting •, but the great refources of'
fancy have been dammed up, by a ftri<5t
adherence to common life. But if in the
latter fpecies Nature has cramped ima-
gination, (he did but take her revenge,
having been totally excluded from old
Romances. The actions, fentiments, con-
vcrfetions, of the heroes and heroines of
ancient days were as unnatural as the ma-
chines employed to put them in motion.

The author of the following pages
thought it polBblc to reconcile the two
kinds. Defirous of leaving the powers
of fancy at liberty to expatiate through the
boundlefs realms of invention, and thence
3 of

[XV ]

of creating more interefting fituations, he
wiihed to condu£b the mortal agents in his
drama according to the rules of probabilicy ;
infhort, to make them thinks fpeak and
zSty as it might be fuppoied mere men
and women would do in extraordinary po-
fitions. He had obfervcd, that in all in-
fpired wntings, the perfonages under the
difpenfation . of miracles and witnefles i(y
the mod ftupcndous phenomena^ never lole
fight of their human charafter: whereas-
in the produdlions of romantic llory^ an im-
probable event never fails to be attended'^
by an abfurd dialogue. The aftors fcem
tolofe their fenfes, the moment the laws.
of Nature have loft their tone. As the
public have applauded the attempt, thp
author muft not fay he v;as entirely unequal
to the tafk he had undertaken : yet if the-
new rout he has ftruck out fhall have paved
a road for men of brighter talents, he Ihall-
own with plcafure and modefty, that he was
ienfible the plan was capable of receiving
greater embellifhments than his imagina-
tion or cohduft of the paffions could bellow

With

WitM rtgafd tb fh€ \iepGmnjsm af the

dbmeftic^, on vyhitR 1 fikn touched te th€i
tormirr preface, I ^Hl b^g leave ^D ddd a
fei^ words. The RtTiplkii^ of th^f be^
baviour, almoft tending to lEkcHc finiles,
"which at firft fecm not confortant t<5 the
fcrious caft of the work, appeared to mt not
only not innproper, but was matked defign-
edly in that manner. My rule was Nature.
However grave, important, or even melan*
choly, the lenlations of Princes and heroes may
be, they do not (lamp the Tame affeftions on
their domeftics : at leaft the latter do nor,
or (liould not be made to exprefs their
paffions in the fame dignified tone. In my
humble opinion, the contraft between the
fublime of the one and the naiveti of the
other, fets the pathetic ofthd former in ^
ftronger light. The very impatience which
a reader feels, while delayed by the coarfe
picafantries of vulgar aftors from arriving
at the knowledge of the important catas-
trophe he expefts, perhaps heightens, cer-
tainly proves, that he has been artfully in-
terefted in the depending event. But I had
higher authority than my own opinion for
this conduft. That great matter of nature,

Shakefpeare^

.[ xvii ]

Shakefpeare^ was the model I copied. Let
me ask if his tragedies of Hamlet and JuHus
Cf/ir would not lofe a confiderable fliare
of their fpirit and wonderful beauties, if
the humour of the grave-diggers, the foole*
ms of Palenius^ and the clumfy jcfts of the
Roman citizens were omitted, or veiled in
heroics ? Is not the eloquence of Antony^ the
nobler and afFedtcdlyrunafFefted oration of
Brutus^ artificially exalted by the rude burfts
of nature from the mouths of their audi-
tors? Thefe touches remind one of the
(Grecian fculptor, who to convey the idea of
a ColofTus within the dimenlions of a feal,
inferted a little boy meafuring his thumb.

No, faya Voltaire in His edition of Cor^
»ff/if, this mixture of buffoonery and fo-

lemnity is intolerable VoUaire is a ge^

nius* — but not of Shakefpeare*% magnitude.

Without

* The following remark is foreign to the prefent
<}oeflioo» yet excuiable in an Enghjbman^ who is wil)«
>ng to think that the fevere criticifms of fo mallerly
a writer as Foltaire on our immortal countrymen, may
^vebeen the effufions of wit and precipitatioDy rather

a than

Withaot recurring to difputaUle authority^
.1 appeal from Voltaire to himfelf, IJh'^

npc avail niyfelf of hi$ former eocoaiii^o^s
:on our mighty p0€;t ; though th<: prc^cfi

critic has twice tranflatcd the lame fpcj^ch
.in HamUt^ fome years ago in adn^irat^D^

latterly ii» deriQon} andlamforry ta fijod

than tlie refult' of judgment and attentioti. Mafy Rat
the CritiVs fkilF in the force and powers- of i^itr lao<"
^uage have been as tacorrcd and incprnpeteDr as hi»
•knowledge of our hidpry ? of the latter bis own pea
iias dropped glaring evidence. In his Preface to i'liQ-
mas Cdrneil!e*^s Earl of EJex^ Monfieur de Vottain allows
cliat the trirtb of kiHory has been groisly perv«tte^ in
that piece. Inexcufc be pleads^ that, hfvh^n C^rmilU
wrote, the Nohleffi of France were much unxead in
M^nglijh llory ;, but now, faysthecpniinentator, that they
Audy it, fuch mifreprefentation would ftot Wfofitrcd
w.*— yet forgetting lltat ihe ^iod of igisorancii h
lapfed» and iliac it is not very ncc^l&ry. to inftruft
the knowing, he undertakes from the overflowing of
liis own reading to give-the Nobility of his own coun-
try a detail of Queen Eti%ahtth*% favourite; -^-of whomr
-fays he, Robert DuiiUy was the firfl, and the £arl of
Xricr/?«r the fecond^^-^*- Could one have believed that
it^ould. be iieceflary to inform Monfieur dt f^olt^in
jiimfclf, that Robert Dudley and the Earl of Leicefier
Vere the iamt f erfon i

ftat his judgment grows weaker, when it
ought to be farther matured. But I Ihall
m^e ufe of his own words, delivered on
the general topic of the theatre, when ha
%vas neither thinking to recommend or de-
Cry Shakfjpeare's pradlice ; confequently at a
moment when Voltaire was impartial. In
the preface to his Enfant Prodigue^ that ex-
quifice piece of which I declare my admi-
radon, and which, ftiould I live twenty
ycars' longer^ I triift 1 ihall never attempt
to ricHcute, he has thefe words, fp?aking of
Comedy [but equally applicable to Tra-
gedy^ if Tragedy is, as forely it ought
to be, a pifture of human life; nor can I
tohccive why occafional pleafantry ought
more to be baniftied from the tragic fceoe,
than pathetic fcrioufneft from the comic]
0» y vcit nn melange de ferkux et de plai-
fanferiej de comique et de touchant ; fouvent
meme une feule avanture produU tous ces con-
irt^s. Rien n*eft ft commun qii'une mat/an
dans laquelle un pere gronde, une fille occu-
pee de fa paflion pleure-, le fils fe moque 4es
deux^ et quelques parens prennent part different-'
mnt a la fcene^ &c. Nous nUnferons pes
de la que toute Comedie doive avoir 4^s fcems

a 2 d0

[ xic J.

de bouffonerie et des [cents attendriffanHs : il y
a beaucoup de tres bonnes pieces ou il ne regne
que de la gayete ; £autres toutts ferieujes ;
d^autres melangees : £aiitrcs cu V attendrijfement
vajufquez aux larmes : il nc faut donner Pex-
clufion a aucun genre : etftl^on me demandoit^

!uel genre ..eft le meilkur^ je repondrois^ ce-
a qui eftlemieux traitL Surely if a Comedy
may be toute ferieufe^ Tragedy may now
and then, loberly, be indulged in a fmile.
Who (hall prefcribe it? fhall (be critic,
who in Itlf-defcnce declares that no kind
ovJght to be excluded from Comedy, give
laws to Shakefpeare ?

I A M aware that the preface from whence
I have quoied thcfe paffages, docs not
ftand in Monfieur de Foltnire^s name, but
in that of his editor ; yet who doubts that
the editor and author were the fame per-
fon ? or where is the editor, w*ho has fo
happily poffeffcd himfelt of his author's
llile and brilhant eafe of argument ? Thefe
paffages were indubitably the genuine fen-
timcnts of that great writer. In his epiftle
to Maffei, prefixed to his Merope^ he de-
livers almolt th€ fame opinion, though I

doiibc

doubt with a little irony. I will repeat his
words, and then give my realbn for quot-
ing them. After tranflating a paflage in
Majei's Merope^ Monfieur de V chair e adds,
T^ous ces traits font naifs : tcut y efi conve*
nabk a ceux que vous introduifez far la jane ^
ct aux riioeurs que vous leur donnez. Ces fa-
mkariies naturelks eujf'ent ete^ a ce queje crcis^
Hen reciiis dans Atbenes ; mais Paris et notre
prUrre veulent une autre efpece de ftmplicitL
I doubt, I fay, whether there is not a grain
of fnecr in this and other paflages ct that
cpiftle ; yet the force of truth is not da-
maged by being tinged with ridicule. Maf*^
fci was to reprelcnt a Grecian ftory : Surely
the Atlienians were as competent judges cf
(irecian manners and of the propriety of
introducing them, as the Parterre of Paris^
On the contrary, fays Voltaire [and I can-
not but admire his reafoning] there were
but ten rhoufand citizens at Athens^ and
faris has near eight hundred thoufand in-
habitants, among whom one may reckon
thirty thoufand judges of dramatic works.

- — Indeed!^ but allowing fo numerous

a tribunal, I believe this is the only inftancc
in which it was ever pretended that thirty

thou-

[ xxii ]

thoufand perfons, living near two thousand
years after the aera in queftion, were, upon
the mere face of the poll, declared better
judges than the Grecians tbemfelves of what
ought to be the manners of a Tragedy writ-
ten on a Grecian ftory.

•

I WILL not enter into a difcuflion of the
^fpece de Jimplicitey which the Parterre of
Paris demands, nor of the [hackles with
which the thirty thoufand judges have cramped
their poetry, the chief ment of which, as I
gather from repeated paflages in The New
Commentary on Corneille, conlifts in vaulting
in fpite of thofe fetters ; a merit which, if
true, would reduce poetry from the lofty
effort of imagination, to a puerile and moft

contemptible labour difficiies nuga with

a witnefs ! I cannot however help mention-
ing a couplet, which, to my Engtifii ears,
always founded as the flatteft and moft
^fling inftance of circumftantial propriety;
♦but which Voltaire^ who has dealt fo fcverc-
ly with nine parts in ten of Corneille^syforkiy
has fingled out to defend in Racine ;

Vc

[ Jtxiii ]

< r'Defin appariement cette parte eft prochalne^
j^/ cette autre conduit dans celui de la Reimv

In Englijhy

To Cariar^j clofet thr$ugh this dcQryou come^
. 4ndt*otfier leads to the ^eerCs drawing-roam^

ynhappy Shakefpeare! hadft thou made
\Rofeneraus inform his compear, Guildenftem,,
ofjthe khnography of the palace of Capen^
hagpi^ inilead, of prelenting u& v^ich a moral
diabgue between . the Prince of Denmark and
the grave-digger, the illuminated pit oi Paris
.lirpuld have been inftrudled a fuond time t(>
adore thy talents.

. Th'£ refult of all I have faid, is^ to
ih^ter my- own daring under the canoa
of the brighteft genius this country, at
leaft, has produced. I might have pleaded^
that having created a new fpecies of ro-
mance, I was at liberty to lay down what
rules I thought fit for the conduft of it:
jBut I ihould be more proud of having

imitated^

3

I

[ XXIV ]

imitated, however faintly, weakly* ami at
a diitancc, fo mafterly a pattern, than to
enjoy the entire merit of invention, unlcfs I
could have marked my work with genius as
well as with originality. Siich as it is, the
Public have honoured it fufficiently, what-
ever rank their fufFrages allot to it.

••MlMaiVa

THE

THE

Castle of Otranto,

Gothic Story, ^c.

CHAPTER I.

t

MANFR E D, Prince of Otranto^ had
one foji and one daughter : The laN
ter a mdft beautiful virgin, aged eigh-
teen, was called Matilda* Conrad^ the fon, was
three years younger, a homely youth, fickly,
and of no promifing difpofition ; yet he was the
darling of his father, who nevet fliowed any

B fymptoms

[2 ]

lyCTJptoms of affedlion to Matilda^ Marked hajj^
contraded a marriage for his fon with the Mar-
quis of Vicenza^s daughter, I/ahlla; and (he
had already been delivered by her guardians into
the hands of Mavfrtd^ that he might celebrate
the wedding as foon as Cvnrad's infirm ftaie of
health would permit. Manfnd^z impatience for
this ceremonial was renfarked by his family and
neighbours. The former indeed, apprehending
the feverity of their Prince's difpofiti«n, did not
d^e to utter their furmifes on this precipitation.
HippoEtaj his wife, an amiable lady, did fome-
times venture to reprefcnt the danger of marry-
ing their only fon fo early, confidering bis great
youth, and greater infirmities j but ihe never
leceived any other anfwer than reflexions on her
own fterility, who had given him but oae heir.
Jiis tenants and fub)e£ls were lefs cautious ia
jtheir djfcourfes : They attributed this hafty
.wedding to the Prince'-s dread of feeing ac<;(q||^
pKfl^ed an ancient prophecy, which was laid.fo
iiave pronounced, that the CetJlU and l^dJhi]^of

C)trant{>

(SKxznia jJjouU pafs Jrom the prifent frnuhf^ ulun*
mrr the red owner jhould he grtmn too large to in^^
habit tu It W2(s difficuit to make any fenfe of
tiiis prophecy \ and ftill lefs eafy to conceive
Ivhait it had to do with the marriage in queftion*
Yet tbefe myfteries, or contradiSions, did not
toake the populace adhere the lefs to their opi<«
nion<

Young ConratTs birth-day was fixed for his
tl^'ttfalsi TThe company was aflembled in the
chapel of the Caftle, and every thing ready for
beginning the divine office, when Cor^ad bimfelf
waa miffing. Manfred impatient of the Icaft
Way, and who had not obfervcd his fon retire,
iifpatched one of his attendants to fummon the
young Prince. The feryant, who had not (laid
iong enough to have crofled the court to Conrad*9
apartmem^ came running back breatblefs, in a
frantick manner, his eyes ftaring, and foaming
ttthe mouth. He faid nothing, but pointed to
th^ coi^t^ The company were ftruck with ter*

ro( and amazement. The Princefs Hippohia.

B 2 without

- ^« *

-3f-

[4]

Without knowing what was the mattiery but anxr-
ous for her fon, fwooned away. Manfred^ lefs.
appreheniive than enraged at the procraftination
of the nuptials, and at the folly of bis domeftic,
afked imperioufly, what was the matter ? The
fellow made no anfwer, but continued pointing
towards the court-yard ; and at laft, after re-
peated quetlions put to him, cried out, oh ! The
helmet I the helmet ! In the mean time, fome
of the company had run into the coqrt,. from
whence was heard a confufed noife of flirieks,
horror, and furprife. Manfredy who began to
be alarmed at not feeing bis fon, went hjmfelf
to get information of what occafioned thU ft^ange
confuGon. Matilda remained endeavouring to
afTift her mother,, and Ifabella ftaid for the fame
purpofe, and to avoid (bowing any impatience
for the bridegroom, for whom, in truth, (he
bud conceived little a(Fe£tion.
. The firft thing that ftruck Manfre^s eyes
was a group of his fervants endeavourjng to
laife fomething that ap()eared to him a Jhountain

of

r 5 ]

<f faUe plumes. He gazed without believing
hisfight* What are ye doing? cried Mwgfh J'
wrathfully ; where is my fon? A volley of voices
replied, Oh ! My Lord ! the Prrnce ! the
Prince, the helmet ! the helmet ! (hocked with
tfaefe lamentable founds, and dreading he knew
not what; he advanced haftily,*— -but what a
fight for a father's eyes ! — he beheld his child
^/hed to pieces, and almoft buried under an
enormous helmet, an hundred times more large
than any cafque ever made for human being, and
Ihaded with a proportionable quantity of black
feathers.

The horror of the fpeftacle, the ignorance of
all around how this misfortune had happened,
and above all, the tremendous phaonomenou

before him, took away the Prince's fpeech.
Yet his filence lafled longer than even grief
could occaAon. He fixed his eyes on what he
wiflied in vain to believe a vifion ; and feemed
lefs attentive to his lofs, ihaji buried in medi-
Ution on the Aupendous object that had occa-

B 3 fioncfi

[6]

iioned it. He toucted, he exaimned the fatal .
cfafque; nor could eten the bleeding ipaangled
ref?iaias of the young Prmce, divert the eyes of
Manfred from the portent before him. All
who had knoiVn hts partial fondnefs for young
Conrad^ were as much furprized at their Prince's
iiifenfibility, as thunder-ftruck themfelves at
liie miracle of the helmet. They conveyed the
disfigured corpfe into'the hall, without receiving
the leaft dire£kton from Matured. As little waa
be attentive to tl>e Ladies who remained in the
chapel : On the contrary, without mentioning
the unhappy Pfinceiles, his wife and daughter^
the firfl founds that dropped from Mtaftei^.% tips
were, take care of the lady Ifabella.

The domeflics, without obferving the fingu-^
larity of this dire£Uon, were guided by their
affection to their mifirefs, to conflder it aa pecu-
liarly addrefied to her fituation, and flew to her
^adifiance. They conveyed her to her chamber
more dead than alive, and indifferent to all the
llrange circumft^nces ihe heard, except the

^cat!^

t7l

death of her (on. Matilda, who doated on hct

hiother, fmochered her own grief and aaiaze4

ment, and thought of nothing but afifting and

comforting her uMAed parent. tJaUla, who

had been treated by Wppclka like a daughter^

and who returned that tenderneA with equal

duty and afFeftion, was fcaroe lefs affiduous

about the Princefs ; at the fame time endea^

vouring to partake and leflen the weight of for^

row which (he faw Matilda ftrove to fuppreis^

for whom file had conceived the warmeft fym*>

pathy of friendfhip. Yet her own (ttuation could

not help finding its place in her thoughts* She

felt no concern for the death of young Cmrad,

except commiferation } and ibe was not forry

10 be delh^ered from a marriage whkh had pro«-

ini(ed her litde felicity, either from her deftined

bridegroom, or from the fevere temper of Maitr

fredy who, though he had diftinguiibed her by

great indulgence, had imprinted her mind with

terror, from bis caufetefs rigour to fuch amiable

Princeiles as HippcHta and MatikUu

B 4 While

[8]

While the Ladies were conveying the wretched
mother to her bed, Mmfrnl remzinnd in the
court, gazing on the ominous cafque, and re->
gardlefs of the crowd which the firangeneis of
the event bad now aflembled around him* The
few words ' he articulated, tended folely to in*i-
quiries, whether any man knew from whence
it could have come i Nobody ^ould . give hioi '
the leaft information. However, as it feemed
to be the fole objei9: of bis curioAty, it Toon
became fo to the reft of the fpe£lators, whofe
conjectures were as abfurd and improbable^ a$
the cataftrophe icfelf was unprecedented. In
the midft of their fenfelefs guefies, a young pea^
fand^ whom rumour had drawn thither from a
neighbouring village, obferved that the mira-
culous helmet was exa&ly like that on the figure
in black marble of Atfonfo the Gpod, one of
their formervPrinccs, in the church of St, JV?-
chdai. Villain ! What fayeft thou ! cried Man^
fndj ftarting from his tr^ce in a tempeft of
I'^ge, ^nd feizing the young man by the coil^Fi

[9]

bow dareft tboit utter fuch treafon ? thy life
ball pay foe it The fpeftators, who as little
comprehended the caufe^ of the Prince's fpry aa
all the reft they bad feen, were at a Ibfs to unravel
this new circumftance. The young pezianc
himfelf was ftill more a^oniibed, not conceiving
bow he had offended the Prince : Yet recoiled*-

«

ingbimfelf, with a mixture of grace and-hu-
mi&ty, he difengaged himfelf from MmfriJF%
gripe, and then with an obeifance, which dif*-
covered more jealoufy of innocence, than dif#*
may ; he aiked, with refpei^, of "^Akzi he waf
guilty ! Manfred^ more inraged at the vigour*
however decently ejferted, with which the young
man had ih^ken oiF his hold, than appeafed by
his fubmiffion, ordered his attendants to leize
him, and, if he had not been withheld by his
friends, whoQi he had invited to 'the nuptia^
would hav? poiguarded (hepeafant in their arms^
During this altercation, fome of the vul;-
gar fpeftators had run to the great churchy
lirhi^h ^Q9^ n^ar the ca(llC| and caqie hac(^

[lo]

open-mouthed, declaring, that the helmet was
tni&t^g'frotn jflfimfo^u ilatue.' Mar^edy at this
neixrs, grew perfe&ly fr^tfc; and, as if he
fought a fubjefi: on which to vent the tempeft
within him, he ruflied again on the young pea-
fant, crying, Villain f Monfter ! Sorcerer ! 'tis
thou baft done this! 'tis thou haft flain my fon !
The mob, who wanted fome objed within the
icope of their capacities, on whom they might
dificbarge their bewildered reafonings, caught
the words from the mouth of their Lord, and
re-ecchoed, ay, ay ; 'tis he, *tis he ; He has
fioten the helmet from good Alfrnfo^s tomb, and
dafhed out the brains of our young Prince with
it, — never reflcfting how enormous the difpro-
portion was between the marble helmet that
had been in the church, and that of fteel before
their eyes; nor how impoflible it was for a youth
fefcmingly not twenty, to wield a piece of ar-
mour of fo prodigious a weight.

The folly of thefe ejaculations brought >^»n.
frid to himfelf : Yet whether provoked at thfe

peafant

[u 1

prafant having obierycd the ttktAhUnct brtuFcea
tk two helmets, and thereby ted to the farlbetf
Hkofttf of the abfence of that in the cbuitb i
or viAiog to bury any freih nioaour under fo
impertinent a fuppofitioo; be gravely pronoimccd
that the young man was certainly a Mcro*
mancer, a9d that till the church c^uld take ccigr
Qt^aoce of the affair, he would have the Ma^
^iaa, whom they had thus deled^ed, kept pri*
km uoder the helmet itfelf, which he ordered
U$ attendants to raife, and place the young man
under it; declaring he fliould be kept there
without food, with which bis own infernal ari
inight furniih him*

It was in vain for the youth t0 repre(ent againfl
Ais prepdfterous fentence : In vain did Man-^
frtii friends endeavour to divert him from thia
iavage and ill-grounded refolution. The gene-»
rality were charmed with their Lord^s decifionn
which, to their apprebeniions, carried great
appearance of juftice, as the Magician was to
V punilhed by the very iftftrument with which

h?

he had offended: Nor were they flruck with
the leaft compunfiion at the probability of the
youth being ftarved, for they iirihly believed,
that, by his diabolic (kill, he could eaffly fup-
ply htmfdf with nutriment.

Mmfrid thus faw his cominands even chear-
fully obeyed, and appointing a guard with ftri6l
orders to prevent any food being conveyed to
the prifoner ; he difmifled his friends and at-
tendants^ and retired to his own chamber, after'
locking the gates of the caftle, in which he
fuffered none but his domeftics to remain*

In the mean time, the care and zeal of the
young Ladies had brought the Princefs Hipp(£ia
to herfeif, who amidft the tranfports of her own
forrow, frequently demanded news of her Lord,
would have difmifled her attendants to watch
over him, and at laft ei^olned MauUa to leave
her, and vifit and comfort her father. Matilda^
who wanted no affectionate duty to Manfred^
though (he trembled at his auflerity, obeyed the
orders of Hippdita^ who|n (he tenderly recpnir

mended

t>

[i3l

mended to IfaheUa \ and enqairing of thtf do-»

medics for her father, was informed that he waH

retired to his chamber, and had commanded

that nobody fhould have admittance to him*

Concluding that he was immerfed in forrow lot

the death of her brother, and fearing to re*

new his tears by the fight of his fole remaining

child, file, hefitated whether fbe fiiould break

ifl upon his af&idion ; yet folicitude for him,

backed by the commands of her mother, en<^

couraged her to venture difobeying the orders

he had given, a fault file had rtsMtx been guilty

of before. The gentle timidity of her nature

made her paufe for fome minutes at his door.

She heard him traverfe bis. chamber backwards

and forwards with dtfordered fteps ; a mood which

increafed her apprehenfions. She was how**

ever juft going to beg admittance, when Mau'-

/^fifuddeidy opened the door; and as.it was

i)ow twilight, concurring with the diforder of

bis mind, he did not diftinguifli the perfon, but

aflced angrily, who it was? Matilda replied

, trembling.

t'4l

trembling, my deareft father, it is I, ^ouf
daughter. Manfred ftepping bade haftily, ci^ied^
Begone, t do not tvant a daughter ; and flinging
back abruptly, clapped the door againft the fef-
rified Matilda,

She was Ikk> well acquainted with her father's
ifflpetuoiity to venture a fecond intfufion. When
ihe bad a litde recovered the ibock of fo bitter
a reception, flie w^ed aws^ her tears to ja-e-^
treat the additional fiab that the knowledge of
it would give to H^oUta^ who queftioned be^
in the moft ^iiKtoas terms on the health of Mau-^
fred, and how he bore his lofs. Matilda affure^
her he was well, and fupported his misfortune
i^ith oiaixiy fortitude. But will he not let me
fee him ? faid l£ppolita mournfully ; will be not
persttt me to blend my tears with hb, and filed
a mothfir'4 forrows in the bofbm of her Lord ?
Or do yoit deceive me, Matilda 9 I know how
Manfred doated ofi his 6m : !s not the ftf«4ce
too heavy for him ? has be not Aink under k i
f*-«Yott do not aniwf r me-^alas .! I disead tbe

worftf

[ «5]

worft ! — - ratfe me, tny maidens ; I ndll, I will
fee my Lord. Bear me to him inftandy : He
is dearer to me even than tny children* Ma^
tilda made figns to IfabeUa to prevent Hxpp96uif%
rifing; and both thofe lovely young women
were ufmg their gentle violence to ftop and
caloi the Princefs, when a fervant, on the part
of Manfred^ arrived and told IfabiUa that his
Lord demanded to fpeak with her.

With me ! cried IfabeUa^ Go, faid HipfoUta^
relieved by a meflage from her Ix)rd : Manjnd
cannot Aipport the fight of his own family. He
thinks you lefs difordered than we are, and
dreads the (hock of my grief. Confole hun,
dear jfabella^ and tell him I will fmother my
own anguifli rather than add to his.

As it was now evening, the fervant, who
coadiKaed IfahcUa^ bore a torch before her.
When they came to Manfrtd^ who was walking
impatiently about the gallery, he ftarted and
faid haftily, take away that light, and begone.
Then (hutting the door impetuoufly> he flung

himfeJf

r .6 J

' btntfeif upon a bench againft the waff, and tad
JJabeVa fit by him. She obeyed trembling. I
ient for you. Lady, itA he, — and thert fiopped
tinder great appearafice of confufion. My Lord f
— ^Ycs, I fent for you on a matter of great mo^
ment, refumed he, ■ ■ dry your tears, young
Lady— you have loft your bridegroom. — ^Yes,
cruel fate f and I have loft the hopes of my
race ! — but Conrad was not worthy of your
beauty— how \ my Lord, faid Ifabetta ; fure

»

you do net fufpecS: me of not feeling the concern
I ought: My duty and afFedtion would have
always — think no more of him, interrupted
Manfred^ he was a fickly puny child, and hea-
ven has perhaps taken him away, that I might
not truft the honours of my houfe on fo frail a
foundation. The line of Manfred calls for nu*
merous fupports* My fooiifb fondnefs for thaC
boy blinded the eyes of my prudence— but it is
better as it is» I hope, in a few years, to hav^
reafon to rejoice at the death of Conrad*

. Words

[17]

Words cannbt paint the aftonifliment of ij&-
ielk. At firft (he appt-ehended that grief had
dlfordered Manfrid*^ undcrftanding. Her next
iHought fuggefted that this (Irange difcourfe was
defigned to enfnare her : She feared that Man-^
fnd had perceived her indifFerence for his fon :
And in confequence of that idea fhe replied^
Good my Lord, do not doubt ttiy tendernefs:
My heart would have accompanied my hand.
Qmrad would have engroffed all my care ; aiid
wherever fate (hall difpofe of me, I (hail always
cherifh his memory, and regard your Highneft
and the virtuous Hippolita as my parents. Cu rfe
on Hippolita! cried Manfred t Forget her from
this moment as I do. In fhort. Lady, you have
miifed a hufband Undeferving of your charms :
They Ihall now be better difpofed of. Inftead
of a fickly boy, you (hall have a hufband in the
prime of his age, who will know how to value
your beauties, and who may expe£l a numerous
offspring. Alas ! My Lord, faid Tfabella^ my
mjnd is too fadly engrofled by the recent cata-

C ftropbe

[i8 J

ftrophc in your family to think of another iwar-
riagc. If ever my father returns, and it fhall
be his pleafurc, I fliall obey, as I did whcnf I
confented to give my hand to your fon: But until
his return, permit mc to remain under your
hofpitable roof,, and employ the melancholy
hours in afiwaging yoyrs, HippoIUa\ aiad the
fair Matilda's afflidion.

I defired you once before^ faid Manfred an*
grily, not to name that woman : Froin this
hour fhe muft be a ftranger to you, as fbe muft
be to me ; — in fliort, IfabeUaj fince I cannot

give you my fon, I offer you myfelf.— Heavens I
cried Ifabelky waking from her delufion, what
do I hear ! You ! My Lord ! You ! My fa-
ther-in-law ! the father of Conrad! the hufband
of the virtuous and tender ■ Hippp/iUi ! -^ I tell
you, faid Manfred imperioufly, HtppoUta is no
longer my wife, I divorce her from this hour.
Too long has fhe curfed me by her unfruitful-
nefs: My fate depends on having fons, — and
this night I truft will give a new date to my

4 hopes*

i 19 1

bpes. At thofe words he feized the cold hand
of Ifahdla^ who was half-dead with fright and
horror. She fhrieked and ftarted from him.
Manfred rofe to pUrfue hdr, when the moon^
which was now up and gleamed in at the oppo*
ilte cafement, prefented to his fight the plumes
of the fdtal helmet^ which rofe to the height of
the windbws, waving backwards ahd folrwards
in a tempefiuous thanner, and accompanied
with a hollow and ruffling foond. Ifahelloj who
gathered courage from her fituation, and who
dreading nothing fo much as Manfred* s purfuit of
his declaration, cried, Look ! My Lord ; fee,
heaven itfelf declares agatitift your impious in-
tfentiohs •!•**- Heaven nor hell fliall impede my
defighSj faid Manfred^ advancing again to feize
the Princefs* At that inftant the portrait of his
grandfather, which hurig over the bench where
they had been fitting, uttered a deep figh, and
heaved its breafl. Ifabella^ wbofe back was
turned to the pidure, faw not the motion, nor
knew whence the found came, but flarted, and
faid, Hark, my Lord ! What found was that ?

ju 2 and

[ 2fO ]
and at the fame time made towards the door^
Manfred^ diftraaed between the flight of Ifa-
bella, who had now reached the flairs, and yet
unable to keep his eyes from the pifture which-
began to move, had however advanced feme
fteps after her, ftill looking backwards on the
portrait, when he faw it quit its pannel, and
defcend on the floor with a grave and melan^
choly air. Do I dream ? cried Man/red return-
ing, or are the devils themfelves in league
againft mc ? fpeak, infernal fpedre ! or, if
thou art my grandfire, why doft thou too con-
fpire againft thy wr«tchcd defcendant^ who too

dearly pays for «'« ^e could finifli the

fentencc, the vifion fighed again, and made a
fign to Manfred to follow him. Lead on ! cried
Man/red; I will follow thee to. the gulph of
■ perdition. The fpeare marched fedately, but
dejeaed, to the end of the gallery, and turned
into a chamber on the right-hand. M^fred
accompanied him at a little diftance, full of
anxiety and horror, but refolved. As he would
have entered the chamber, the doot was clapped

[ 21 ]

to with ' violence by an invifible hand. The
Prisce, collediing courage from this delay,
"Would have forcibly burft open the door with
his foot, but found that it refifted his utmoft
efforts. Since hell will not fatisfy my curiofity,
faid Manfredy I will ufe the human means in
my power for prefcrving my race ; Ifahdla (hall
not efcape me.

That Lady, whofe refolution had given way
to terror the moment fhe had quitted Manfred^
continued her flight to the bottom of the prin-
cipal ftaircafe. There flie flopped, not know-
ing whither to direct her fleps, nor how to
efcape from the impetuofity of the Prince, The
gates of the caflle fhe knew were locked, and
guards placed in the court. Should fhe, as her
heart prompted her, go and prepare HippoUta
for the cruel deftiny that awaited her; fhe did
not doubt but Manfred would feek her there,
and that his violence would incite him to double
the injury he medicated, without leaving room
fcr them to avoid the impetuofity of his paf-

C 3 fions.

♦ *

[ 22 ]

fions. Delay might give him time to rcAcSt on
the horrid meafures he had conceived, or pro*
duce fome circumftance in her favour, if fhe
could for that night at leaft avoid his odious

purpofc. Yet where conceal herfclf ! how

avoid the purfuit he would infallibly make
throughout the cadle ! As thefe thoughts pafied
rapidly through her mind, flie recollected a
fubterraneous pafTage which led from the vaults
of the caftle to the church of St. Nicholas.
Could fhe reach the altar before (he was over-
taken, fhe Hnew even Mtmfied*s violence would
not dare to profane the facrednefs of the place }
and fhe determined, if no other means of deli-
verance offered, to fhut herfelf up for ever
among the holy virgins, whofe convent was
contiguous to the cathedral. In this refolution^
ihe feized a lamp that burned at the foot of the
flaircafe, and hurried towards the fecret pafiage.
The lower part of the cafile was hollowed
into feveral intricate cloyflers ; and it was not
^afy for pne imder fo much anxiety to find the

door

[23 ]
door that opened into the cavern. An awful
filence reigned throughout thofe fubterraneous
regions, except now and then fome blafls of
wind ^hat (hook the doors (he had pafled, and
which grating on the rufty hinges, were rc-
ecchoed through that long labyrinth of dark-
nefs. Ev«-y murmur ftruck her with new ter-
ror; — yet more flie dreaded to hear the wrath-
iiil voice of Manfred urging his domeftics to
purfue her. She trod as foftly as impatience
would give her leave, — yet frequently flopped
and liftened to hear if fhe was followed. In
one of tho(e moments fhe thought (be heard a
ligh. She fhuddered, and recoiled a few paces.
In a moment (he thought (he heard the ftep of
fome perfon. Her blood curdled ; (he con-
cluded it was Manfred. Every fuggeftion that
horror could infplre rufhed into her mind. She
condemned her ra(h flight, which had thus ex-
Jwfcd her to his rage in a place where her cries
were not likely to draw any body to her aiBft-
;ince.-?-Yet the found feemed not to come from

C 4 behind,

[24]

behind,— if Manfred knew where fhe was, he
muft have followed her : She was fiill in one
of the cloyfters, and the fteps fhe had heard
were too diftinft to proceed from the way ftie
had come. Cheared with this refleftion, and
hoping to find a friend in whoever vvas not the
Piince ; fhe w^s going to advancCji whc|i a
door that flood a jar, at fome diflance to the
left, was opened gently : But e'er her lamp,
which fhe held up, could difcover who opened
ir, the pcrfon retreated precipitately on feeing
the light.

IfobeUa^ whom every incident was fufficient
to difmay, hefitated whether fhe fhould proceed-
Her dread of Manjre4 foon outweighed every
other terror. The very circumflance of the
perfop avoiding her, gave her a fort of courage.
It could only be, fhe thought, fome domeflic
belonging to the caflle. Her gentlenefs had
never ralfed her an enemy, and confpious in-
nocence made her hope that, unlefs fent by the
l^pnce's order to feck her, his fcrvants would

rather

[25]
rather affift than prevent her flight, Fortifying
herfelf with thefe refledllons, and believing by
what (he could obferve, that fhe was near the
mouth of the fubterraneous cavern, (he approach-
cfl the door that had been opened ; but a fud-
den guft of vs^ind th^t met her at the door,
extinguifhed her lamp, and l^ft l)er in tota}
darknefs.

Words cannot paint the horror of the Pfin-
cefs's (ituation. Alone in fo difmal a place,
her mind imprinted with all the terrible events
of the day, hopelefs of efcaping, expefting every
moment the arrival of Manfred^ and far from
tranquil on knowing {he w^as within reach of
fomebody, fhe knevi^ not whom, who for fomc
caufe feemed concealed thereabouts, all thefe
thoughts crouded on her diftradled mind, and
Ihe was ready to fink under her apprehenfions.
She addreffed herfelf to every Saint in heaven,
and inwardly implored their afTiftance. For a
confidcrable time Qie remained in an agony of
dcfpair. At laft, ^s foftly as was poffible, (he

felt

[ 26 ]

felt for the door, and having found it, entered
trembling into the vault from whence (he had
beard the figh and fteps. It gave her a kind of
momentary joy to perceive an imperfeft ray of
clouded moonlhine gleam from the roof of the
vault, which feemed to be fallen in, and from
whence hung a fragment of earth or building,
ibe could not diftinguifh which, that appeared
to have been cruflied inwards. She advanced
eagerly towards this chafm. When &e difcerned
a human form {landing clofe againfi the wall.

She fhrieked, believing it the ghoft of her
l)etrothed Conrad. The figure advancing, faid
in a fubmiffive voice, be not alarmed, Lady ; I
will not injure you. Ifabella a little encouraged by
the words and tone of voice of the .ftranger,
and recollefling that this muft be the perfon
who had opened the door, recovered her fplrits
enough to reply, Sir, whoever you are, take
pity on a wretched Princefs, ftanding on the
brink of deftru6Hon : Affift me to efcape from
this fatal caftle, or in few moments I may be

made

[27]

made miferable for ever. Alas ! faid the ftrangerf
what can I do to affift you i I will die in
your defence ; but I am unacquainted with the
caftle, and want^ Oh ! faid Ifabella^ haftiljr

interrupting him, help me but to find a trap-
door that muft be hereabout, and it is the
greateft fervice you can do me, for I have noC
a minute to lofe* Saying thcfe words, (he felt
about on the pavement, and directed the
firanger to fearch likewife for a fmooth piece of
brals inclofed in one of the flones. Thar, faid
ihe, is the lock, which opens with 4 fpnng, of
which I know the fecret. If we can find that^
I may efcape-^-if not, alas ! courteous flranger,
I fear, I (hall have involved you in my misfor-
tunes: Manfred will fufpe£l you for the accom*
plice of my flight, and you will fall a vidim to
his refentment. I value not my life, faid the
firanger, and it will be fome comfort to lofe it, in
trying to deliver you from his tyranny. Generous
youth, faid ifabella^ how (hall I ever requite— v
as Ihe uttered thofc words, a ray of moonfliinc

fireaming

•I 2S]

ilreaming through a cranny of the ruin above
ihone direftly on the lock they fought — Oh !
tranfport ! faid Ifahella^ here is the trap-door !
and taking out a key, flie touched the fpring,
which darting afide, di<covered an iron ring.
Lift iip the door, faid the Princefs. The ftrangcr
obeyed \ and beneath appeared fome ftonc
ftcpj defcending into a vault totally dark. We
muft go down here, faid Ifahella : Follow me ;
dark and difmal as it is, we cannot mifs our
way ; it leads dircftly to the church of St. JV/-
Mas — but pcrfcaps, added the Princefs mo-
deftly, you have no reafon to leave the caftle,
ijor have I farther occafion for your fcrvice ; in
few minutes, I fliall be fafe from Maufred^s rage
— only let me know to whom I am fo much
obliged. I will never quit you, faid the ftranger
eagerly, until I have placed you in fafety—^
nor think me, Princefs, more generous than I

dm J though you are my principal care the

ftranger was interrupted by a fuddennoife of voices
that fcemed approaching, and they foon diftin-

guiflied

L 29 I

gtiilhed thefe words : talk not to me of nccro-'
mancers ; I tell you (he mud be in the caftle ;
I will find her in fpire of enchantment — Oh f
heavens, cried Ifahella^ it is the voice of Manfred!
make hafte or we are ruined! and fhut the trap-
door after you. Saying this, fhe defcended the
ffieps precipitately, and as the ftranger haftened
to follow her, he let the door flip out of his
hands : it fell, and the fpring clofed over it.
He tried in vain to open it, not having obferved
Ifahella^s method of touching the fpring; nor
had he many moments to make an eflay. The
noife of the falling door had been heard by
Manfred, who directed by the found, haftened
thither, attended by his fervants with torches.
It muft be IfateJla ; cried Manfred before he
entved the vault ; fhe is efcaping by the fitb-
terraneous paflage, but fhe cannot have got

far. . What was the aftonifliment of the

Prince, when, inftead oflfahella, the light of the
torches difcovered to him the young peafant,
whom he thought confined under the fatal

helmet:

helmet : Traitor ! faid Mat^ed^ howcameft tliou
here? I thought thee in durance above in the
court. 1 am no traitor, replied the young
man boldly, nor am I anfwerable for your
thoughts. Prcfumptuous villain ! cried Man^
fred^ doft thou provoke my wrath ? tell me ;
how haft thou efcaped from above ? thou haft
corrupted thy guards, and their lives (hall an-
fwer it. My poverty, faid the peafant calmly,
will difculp^e them : Though the minifters
of a tyrant's wrath, to thee they are faithful,
and but too willing to execute the orders
which you unjuftly impofed upon them. Art
thou fo hardy as to dare my vengeance ? faid
the Prince~but tortures fliall force the truth
from thee. Tell me, I will know thy accom-»
plices. There was my accomplice \ faid the
youth fmiling, and poiitting to the roof*.
Manfred ordered the torches to be held up,
and perceived that one of the cheeks of the
enchanted cafque had forced its way through
the pavement of the court, as his fervants had

let

let it fall over the peafant, and bad broken
through into the vault, leaving a gap through
which the peafant bad preflcd bimfelf (omc
minutes before be was found by Ifabella. Was
that the way by which thou didft defcend ? faid
Manfnd. It was ; faid the youth. But what
noife was that, faid Manfred^ which I heard
as I entered the cloyfter i a door clapped: (aid
the peafant ; I heard it as well as you. What
door? faid Manfred haftily. I am not ac^
^uainted with your caftle; faid the peafant;
this is the flrft time I ever entered it; and
this vault the only part of it within which
I ever was. But I tell thee, faid Manfred
[wifhing to find out if the youth had difcovered
the trap-door] it was this way I heard the noiie :
My fervants heard it too— my Lord, interrupt-
ed one of them officioufiy, to be fure it wa»
the trap-door, and he was going to make his
efcape. Peace! blockhead, faid the Prince
angrily; if he was going to efcape, how fhould

he come on this fide ? I will know from fais^

ow»

[3^ ]

own mouth Ivhat tioife it was I heard. Tell me
tfuly; thy life depends on thy veracity.' My
veracity is dearer to me than my life ; faid the
peafant ; nor would I purchafe the one by for-
feiting the other. Indeed ! young philofopher f
faid Manfred contemptuoufly j tell me then, what
was the noife I heard ? A(k me what I can an-
fwer, faid^J;ie, and put me to death infiantly if
I tetl you a* lie. Manfred ^oi^xn^ impatient at
ifie fteady valour and indifference of the youth,

«

cried, Well then, thou man of truth ! anfwer ; was
it the fall of the trap-door that I heard ? It was ;
faid the youth. It was ! faid the Prince; and how
didft thou come to know there was a trap- door
here ! I faw the plate of brafs by a gleam of
moonihine j replied he. But what told thee it
was a lock ? faid Manfred^ How didft thou
difcover the fecret of opening it ? Providence^
that delivered me from the helmet, was able to
-direft me to the fpring of a lock ; faid he. Pro-
vidence Ihould have gone a little farther, and
have placed thee out of the reach of my refent- *

menty

f 33 J

ihent, faid Manfred: When Providence had
taught thee to open the lock, it abandoned thee
for a fool, who did not know how to make ufe
of its favours. Why didft rhou not purfue the
path pointed out for thy efcape ? Why didft
thou (hut the trap-do6r before thou hadft de-
fended the fteps ? I might aflc you, my Lord,
laid the peafant, how I, totally unacquainted
with your caftle, was to know that thofe fteps
led to any outlet ? but I fcorn to evade your
queftions. Wherever thofe fteps lead to, per*
haps I (hould have explored the way — I could
iiot be in a worfe fituation than I was. But the
truth is, I let the trap-door fall : Your imme-
diate arrival followed. I had given the alarm—
what imported it to me whether I was feized a
minute fooner or a minute later ? Thou art a
refolute villain for thy years ; faid Manfred"-*
yet on refledlion I fufpetSl thou doft but trifle
with me : Thou haft not yet told me how thou
didft open the lock. That I will (how you, my
iord ; faid the peafant, and taking up a frag-

D ment

ment of ftone that had fallen frdm above,
he laid hicnfelf on the trap-door, and began^ to
beat on the piece of brafs that covered it ; mean-
ing to gain time for the cfcape of the Princefs.
This prefence of mind, joined to the frankneft
of the youth, ftaggered Manfred^ He eveii felt
a difpofition towards pardoning one who had
been guilty of no criqfie* Manfred was not one
of thofe favage tyrants who wanton in cruelty
unprovoked. The circumftances of bis fortune
had given an afperity to his temper, which was
naturally humane ; and his virtues were always
ready to operate, when his pai&ons did not ob-
fcure his reafon.

While the Prince was in this fufpence, a
confufed noife of voices ecchoed through the
diflant vaults. As the found approached, he
diftinguifhed the clamours of feme of his dome-
Aics, whom he had difperfed through the caftle

in fcarch of IfabeUa^ calling out, where is my

Lord ? where is the Prince ? Here I am ; faid

Manfredy as they came nearer ; h%ve you found

I the

f 35 ]

the Princefs ? the firft that arrived, replied, oh !
my Lord ! I am glad we have found you — found
me \ (aid Manfred i have you found the Princefs !
Wc thought we had, my Lord, faid the fellow,
looking terrified— but — but what? cried the
Prince 5 has (he efcaped ? — Jaquez and I, my
Lord—yes, I and Diego^ interrupted the fecond,
who came up in ftili greater confternation—
fpeak one of you at a time, faid Manfred ; I
afk you where is the Princefs? We do not
know; faid they both together; but we are

frightened out of our wits — fo I think, block-
heads, faid Manfred \ what is it has feared you
thus ? — oh ! my Lord, faid Jaquez^ Diego
has feen fuch a fight I your Highnefs would not
helieve our eyes— what new abfurdity is this !
<:ried Alfred — give me a dire£l anfwer, or
by heaven — why, my Lord, if it pleafe your
Highnefs to hear mc, faid the poor fellow;
I^iego and I — yes I and Jaquez^ cried his com* j
fade — did not I forbid you to fpeak both at a
time ? faid the Prince : You, Jaquez^ anfwer ;

D 2 for

[36]

for the other fool feems more diflraAed thadf
thou art ; what is the matter ? my gracious
Lord, faid JaqueZj if it pleafe your Highnels
to hear me; Diego and I according to your
Highnefs's orders went to fearch for the young
Lady ; but being comprehendve that we might
meet the ghoft of my young Lord$ your High-
nefs's fon, God reft his foul, as he has not re-
ceived chriftian burial — fot ! cried Manfred in a
rage, is it only a ghoft. then that thou haft feen ?
oh. ! worfc ! worfe ! my Lord, cried Diego : I
had rather have feen ten whole ghofts— grant me
patience ! faid Manfred \ thefc blockheads dif-

tradt me — out of my fight, Diigo! and. thou
JaqueZj tell me in one word, art thou fober i

art thou raving ? thou waft wont to have fome

fenfe : has the other fot frightened himfelf and

thee too ! fpeak i what is ic he fancies he has

feen? Why, my Lord, replied Jaquez, trembling,

I was going to tell your Highnefs, that fince

. the calamitous misfortune of my young Lord,

. God reft his precious foul ! not one of us your

Highnefs's

[ 37 ]

Bigfanefi's faithful fervants, indeed we are, my
Lord, though poor men ; I fay, not one of us
has dared to fet a foot about the caftle, but two
together: So Diego and I, thinking that my
young Lady might be in the great gallery, went
up there to look for her, and tell her your
Highnefs wanted fomething to impart to her—
blundering fools ! cried Manfred : And in the
mean time fhe has made her efcape, becaufe
you were afraid of goblins ! — Why, thou
knave I (he left me in the gallery j I came from
thence myfelf. For all that, (he may be there
ftill for ought I know faid yaquezi but the
devil ffliall have me before I feek her there
again !-?-.poor Diego ! I do not believe he will

ever recover it ! recover what ? faid Manfred;
am I never to learn what it is has terrified thefe
rafcals? — but I lofe my time; follow me

flave; I will fee if ftie is in the gallery for

heaven's fake, my dear good Lord, cried JaqueZy
do not go to the gallery! Satan himfelf I be-
lieve is in the great chamber next to the gallery
Man/redy who hitherto had treated the

D 3 terror

[38 J

terror of his fervaots as an idle panic^ wa^
ftruck at this new circumftance. He recoil
le£ted the apparition of the portrait, and the
fudden clofing of the door at th^ end of the
gallery — his voice faltered, and he asked

with diforder, what is ifi the great chamber i
xny Lord, faid Ja^uiZy when Dls^ga and I

came into the gallery, he went firft, for he
faid he had more courage than I. So when
we came into the gallery, we found nobody*
We looked- under every bench and ftool j and
fiiil we found nobSdy — were all the pictures in
their places? faid Manfred* Yes, my Lord^
anfwered Jaquez ; but we did not think of look-
ing behind them^^well, well 1 faid Manfredy
proceed. When we came to the door of the
great chamber, continued Jaquezy we found it
fhut — and could not you open it ? faid Manfred*
Oh ! yes, my Lord, would to heaven we had
not ! replied he-— nay. It was not I neiAer,
It v/7is Diego : he was grown fool- hardy, and
would go on, though I advifed him not — if
ever I open a door that is fhut again — trifle

not»

[39]

fiot, faid Manfred ihuddering, but tell me what
you faw ia the great chamber on opening the
door — I! my Lord! faid JaqueXj I faw
nothing ; I was behind Diego ; — but I ii^ard

thenoife yaquez^ faid Manfred in a folemn

tone of voice j tell me I adjure thee by the fouls
of my anceflors, what was it thou faweft ? what
was it thou heardft ? It was Diego faw it, my
Lord, it was not I; replied Jajuez; I only
heard the noife, Dl^go had no fooner opened
the door, than he cried out, and ran back-r-I ran
hack too, and faid, it is the ghoft i the ghoft f
no, no, faid Diego^ and his hair flood an end — it
is a giant I believe ; he is aU clad in armour,
for I faw his foot and part of his leg, and they
are as large as the helmet below in the court.
As he faid thefe words, my Lord, we heard a
yiolent motion and the ratling of armour, as
if the giant was rifing, for Diego has told me
iince, that he believes the giant was lying
down, for the foot and leg were ftretched at
icngth on the floor. Before we could get to

I> 4 the

[40]

the end of the gallery, we heard the door of
the great chamber clap behind us, but we did not
dare turn back to fee if the giant was following
us — ^yct now 1 think on it, wc muft have heard

him if he had purfued us but for heaven's.

fake, good my Lord, fend for the chaplain and
have the caflle exorcifed, for^ for certain, it is
enchanted. Ay, pray do, my Lord, cried all the
fervants at once^ or we muft leave your High-
nefs's fervice — peace ! dotards ; faid Manfredy
and follow me; I will know what 3II this
means. .We ! my Lord ! cried they with one
voice, we would not go up to the gallery for
your Highnefs's revenue. The young pea Ian t,
who had flood filent, now fpoke. Will your
Highnefs, faid he, permit me to try this ad-
venture ? my life is of confequence to nobody :
I fear no bad angel, and h^ve offeadsd no good
one. Your behaviour is above your fccming \
faid Manfredy viewing him v/ith furprife and

acljniration hereafter I will reward your

hf^very— but now, continued he v/Jth a fighj^

I an>

[41 ]

lam fo circumftanced, that I dare truft no eye)
but my own — however, I give you leave to ac-
company me.

Manfred^ when he firft followed Ijabella from
the gaUery, had gone dire£Uy to the apartment
of his wife, concluding the Princefs had retired
thither. Hippolitd, who knew hi3 ftep, rofe with
anxious fondnefs to meet her Lord, whom ibe
h^d not feen fince the death of their fon. She
would have ilown in a tranfport mixed of joy
and grief to his bgfom, but he pufhed her
rudely off, and faid. Where is Ifabella? Ifa-
Ma ! My Lord ! faid the aftoniflied HtppolitdB
Yes i Ifabella ; cried Manfred imperioufly ; I
want Ifabella. My Lord, replied Matilda^ who
perceived how much his behaviour had (hocked
her mother, ihe has not been with us fince your
Highnefs fummoncd her to your apartment.
Tell me where flie is j faid the Prince ; I do
not want to know where flie has been. My
good Lord, f^id Hifpdita^ your daughter telfs
you the truth; Ifabella left us by your com-

[ 42 ]

snand, and has not returned lince ; — - but, mj
good Lord, compofc yourfelf : Retire to your
reft : This difmal day has difordered you. ^«
ielta {hall wait your orders in the morning.
What then, you know where * fbe is ! cried
Manfred: Tell me dire£Hy, for I will not lofc
an inflant — and you, woman, fpeaking to his
wife, order your chaplain to attend me forth-
with. Ifahella^ faid Hippolita calmly, is retired,
I fuppofe to her chamber : She is not accuftom*
ed to watch at this late houn Gracious my
J^ord, continued ihe, let me know what has
difturbed you : Has Ifahella offended you i
Trouble me not with queftions, faid Manfred^
Jbut tell me where (he is. Matilda ihall call her

feid' the Princefs Sit down, my Lord, and

xefume your wonted fortitude. — What, art thou
jealous of Ifahella^ replied he, that you wifh to
be prefent at our interview ? Good heavens !
iny Lord, faid Hippolita^ what is it your High-
xiefs means .^ Thou- wilt know ere many mi-
autes arc pafledj faid the cruel Prince. Send

your

(43 3

jour chaplain to me, and wait mjr pleafiiK hert ^
At thefe words be flung out of the room lU-
fearch of IfabeRa : leaving the amaaed Ladiet
thunder-flruck with his words and frantic de-
portment, and loft in vain conjediures on what
he was meditating.

Mcu^id was now returning from the vault,
attended by the peafant and a few of his fer-
vaots whom he had obliged to accompany him.
He afcended the flair- cafe without ftopping tiH
he arrived at the gallery, at the door of which
he met HippoUta and her chaplain. When Diig0

had been difmiiTed by Manfred^ he had gone di-
x%&\y to the Princefs's apartment with the alarm
of what he had feen. That excellent Lady,
who no more than Manfred,^ doubted of the rea-
lity of the viflon, yet affeded to treat it as a
<lcliriujn of the fervant. Willing, however, to
fave her Lord from any additional fhock, and
prepared by a feries of grief not to tremble at
any acceiSon to it; flie determined to make
herfelf the firft facrifice, if fate had marked the

preient

[ 44 I

prefent.hour /or their deftrudion. , Difmtffing
the i<elu£tatit Malilda to her reft, who in vain
fued for .Uuve to. accompany her mother, and
attended only by her chaplain, Hippolita had
vifited the gallery and great chamber $ and now
with more ferenity of foul than fhe had felt for
many hours, ihe met her Lord, and aflured him
that . the viflon of the gigantic leg and foot was
all a fable; and no doubt an imprefGon made
by fear, and the dark and difmal hour of the
night on the minds of his fervants. She and the
chaplain had examined the chamber, and found
every thing in the ufual order.

Manfred^ though perfuaded, like his wife, that
the vifion had been no work of fancy, recovered
a little from the tempeft of mind into which
fo many ftrange events had thrown him. A*
fbgmed too of his inhuman treatment of a Print-
ceft, who returned every injury with new marks
of tendernefs and duty ; he felt returning love
forcing itfelf into his eyes — but not Icfs aiham^
«d of feeling remorfe towards one, againft whom

h^

f4Sl

he was inwardly meditating a yet more bitter
outrage ; he curbed the yearnings of his heaif,
and did not dare to lean even towards pity.
The next tranfition of his foul was to exquiHte
viilainy. Prefuming on the unfhaken fubmiflion
o^Hippolita^ he flattered himfelf that fhe would
not only acquiefce with patience to a divorce, but
would obey if it was his pleafure^ in endea-
vouring to perfuade IfaheUa to give him her hand
— but e'er he could indulge this horrid hope,
he reflefied that Ifabella was not to be found.
Coming to himfelf, he gave orders that every
avenue to the caftle (hould be ftriclly guarded,
and charged his domeftics on pain of their lives
to fuffer nobody to pafs out. The young pea-
fant, to whom he fpoke favourably, he ordered
to remain in a fmall chamber on the (tairs, in
which there was a pallet-bed, and the key of
which he took away himfelf, telling the youth
be would talk with him in the morning. Then
tiifmiffing his attendants, and bellowing a fullen
Itind of half-nod on Hippolita, he retired to his
own chamber. CHAP.

[46]

^

CHAP. II.

\/rjfTILDjfy who by HlppoKta*s order, hzi
retired to her apartment^ was ilUdifpofed
to take any reft. The (hocking fate of htr
brother bad deeply aflTeded her. She was fur-
prized at not feeing IJaiiUa : But the ftrange
words which had fallen from her father, and his
obfcure menace to the Princefs his wife, ac-
companied by the moft furious behaviour, hfld
filled her gentle mind with terror and alarm*
She waited anxioufly for the return of Bianca^
a young damfel that attended her, whom ihe
bad fent to learn what was become of IfabellA,
Bianca foon appeared and informed her miflrefs
of what (he had gathered from the fervants,
that IfaheUu was no where to be found. She
related the adventure of the young pcafant, who

had

[47]

had been difcovered in the vault, tho' with many
ilmple additions from the incoherent accounts of
die doraeftics ; and ihe dwelled principally on
the gigantic leg and foot which had been fieen
in the gallery-chamber. This laft circumftance
had terrified Blanca fo much, that ffae was re*
joiced when Matilda told her that (he would not
go to reft, but would watch till the PrinceTa
bould rife.

The young Princefs wearied herfelf in con*
jedures on the flight of IJabella^ and on th^
threats of Manfred to her mother. But what
bufinefs could he have fo urgent with the chap-
lain ? faid Matilda. Does he intend to have my
brother's body interred privately in the chapel ?
Oh ! Madam, faid Bianca^ now I guefs. As
you are become his heirefs, he is impatient to
have you married : He has always been raving
for more fons \ I warrant he is now impatient
Tor grandfons. As fure as I live, Madam, I
Ihall fee you a bride at laft — Good Madam, you
Won't caft oiF your faithful Bianca : You won't

put

[4n

put Dotma Rofara over me, now you are a great

Princefs. My poor Bianca^ faid Matilda^ bow

/aft your thoughts amble ! I a great Princefs f
What haft thou feen in Manfred*% behaviour

fince my brother's ddath that befpeaks any in-
creafe of tendernefs to me ? No, Bianca \ his
heart was ever a ftranger to me — but he is my
father, and I muft not complain. Nay, if hea-
ven (huts my father's heart againft me, it over-
pays my little merit in the tendernefs of my mo-
ther O that dear mother ! yes, Btance^ 'tis

there I feel the rugged temper oi -Manfred. I
can fupport his harfhnefs to me with patience ;
but it wounds my foul when I am witneis to his
caufelefs feverity towards her. Oh ! Madam,
faid BiancOy all men ufe their wives fo, when
they are weary of them — and yet you congra-
tulated me but now, faid Matilda^ When you
fancied my father intended to difpofc of me. I
would have you a great Lady, replied Bianca^
come what will. I do not wiOi to fee you mbped
in a convent, as you would be if you had your

will.

[4^

ill, and if my Lady, your mother, who khoiirs
that a bad hufband is better than no hufband at
all, did not hinder you-^blefs me ! what noife
is that ! St. Nicholas forgive the ! I was but in
jeft. It is the wind, faid Matilda^ whiftling
through tl\e battlements in the tower above :
You have heard it a thoufand times. Nay, faid
iianca^ there was no harm neither in what I
faid : It is no fin to talk of matrimony-: — and
i% Madam, as I Was faying j if my Lord Man-
Jjfed fliould offer you a handfome young Prince
for a bridegroom, you vtrould drop him a curtfy,
and tell hirii you would rather take the veil.
Thank heaven ! I am in no fiich danger, faid
Matilda: You know how many pif-opofals fot

me he has rejeSed and you thanfk him, like

a dutiful daughter, do you, Madam P-^^ — bat
cotne, Madam ; fuppofe, to-morrow morfiing
he was to fend for you to the great cduncil
chamber, and there yoti fhould find at his elbow
a lovely young Prince, with large black eyes,
a fmooth white foreheady and manly curling

£ locks

[ 5® I

I'ecks like Jet ; in fhort, Madam, a young Hero-

refembling the pifture of the good Alfonfo in the

*

gallery, which you fit and gaze at for hours
together — do not fpeak lightly of that pifture,
interrupted Matilda fighing: I know the ado-
ration with which I look at that pidure is un-
common — but I am not in love with a coloured
pannel. The character of that virtuous Prince,
the veneration with which my mother has in-
fpired me for his memory, the orifons which
I know not why ihe has enjoined me to pour
forth at his tomb,, all have concurred to per-
iaade me that fome how or other my deftiny is
linked with fomething relating to him — Lord!
Madam, bow fhould that be? faid Bianco: I
have always heard that your family was no way
related to his : And I am furc I cannot conceiv€
why my Lady, the Princefs, fends you in a
cold morning or a damp evening to pray at his
tomb : He is no Saint by the Almanack. If you
mud pray, why does not ihe bid you addrefs
yourfelf to our great St. Nicholas P I am fure he

i^

is the Saint I pray to for a hufband. Perhaps
my mind would be lefs affefted, faid Matilda^ if
my mother would explain her reafons to me :
But it is the myftery fhe obferves, that infpircs
me with this — I know not what to call it. As
flie never a<£ls from caprice, I am fure there is
fome fatal fecret at bottom— nay, I know there
is: In her agony of grief for my brother's death
ihe dropped fome words that intimaitcd as much
— oh! dear Madam, cried Biarica^ What were
they? No; faid Matilda^ if a parent lets fall a
word, and wifhes it recalled, it is not for a
child to utter it. What! was (he forry for
what fhe had faid? a(ked Blanca.^^I am fure.

Madam, you may truft me- with my own

little fecrets, when I have any, I may ; faid
Matilda i but never with my mother's : A child
ought to have no ears or eyes, but as a parent
direiSs. Well ! to be fure. Madam, you was
bom to be a faint, faid Blanca^ and there is no
refilling one's vocation : You will end in a con-
vent at laft. But there is my Lady Ifahella

£ Z ' would

[ 5^]

would not be fo refer ved to me : She will let
me talk to her of young men; and when a
handfome cavalier has come to the caftle, (he
has owned to me that (he wiflied your brother
Conrad refcmbled hiai. Bianca^ faid the Prin-

cefs, I do not allow you to mention my friend
difrcfpedlfully. Ijhbdla is of a chearful difpo-
fition, but her foul is pure as virtue itfelf. She
knows your idle babling humour, and perhaps
has now and then encouraged it, to divert me-
lancholy, and enliven the folitude in which m^

father keeps us Blefled Mary! faid Bianca

fiarting, there it is again! — dear Madam, Do

you hear nothing? this caftle is certainly

haunted! — peace! faid Matilda^ and liften ! I
did think I heard a voice— but it muft be fancy;
your terrors, I fuppofc, have infedied me. In-
deed ! indeed ! Madam, faid Bianca^ half- weeping
with agony, I am fure I heard a voice. Does any
body lie in the chamber beneath ? faid the Prin-
ccfs. Nobody has dared to lie there, anfwered
Bianca^ fmce the great aftrologcr that was youc
3 brother'

s-

[ 53 ]

brother's tutor, drowned himfelf. For certain.
Madam, his ghod and the young Prince's are

iiow met in the chamber below for heaven's

faice let us fly to your mother's apartment! I
charge you not to ftir ; faid Matilda, If they
are fpirits in pain, we may eafe their fuffcrings
by queftioning them. They can mean no hurt
to us, for we have not injured ihem — and if
they (hould, fhall we be more fafe in one cham-
ber than in another ? Reach me my beads j we
will fay a prayer, and then fpeak to them. Oh !
dear Lady, I would not fpeak to a ghoft for the
world; cried Bianca — as fhe faid thofe words,
they heard the cafement of the little chamber
belovyr Matilda^s open. They liftened attentive-
}f, and in few minutes thought they heard a
perfon fing, but could not diftinguifli the words.
This can be no evil fpirit ; faid the Princefs in

■

a low voice : It is undoubtedly one of the fa-
mily — open the window, arfd we Ihall know
the voice. I dare not indeed. Madam ; faid
Bianca. Thou art a very fool ; faid Matildny
opening the window gently herfelf. The noifc

E 3 U^e

[54]

the Princcfs made was however heard by the
pcrfon beneath, who flopped ; and they con-
cluded had heard the cafepient open» Is any
body below ? faid the Princefs : If there is,
fpeak. Yes j faid an unknown voice. Who is
it? (ziA Matilda. A ftranger j replied the voice.
What flranger ? faid fhe; and how didft thou
come there at this unufual hour, when all the
gates of the caflle are locked? I am not here

willingly: Anfwered the voice but pardon

me, Lady, if I have difturbed your refl : I
knew not that I was overheard. Sleep had for-
faken me: I left a refllefs couch, and came to
wafte the irkfomc hqurs with gazing on the fair
approach of morning, impatient to be difmiffed

from this caflle. Thy words and accents, fai(|
Matilda^ are of a melancholy caft : If thou art
tinhappy, I pity thee. If poverty afflifls thee,
let me kno*,v it: I will mention thee to the Prin-
cefs, whofe beneficent foul ever melts for the
diftreffedj and ftie will relieve thee. I am indeed
tinhappy, faid the flranger; and I know not
what wealth is : But I do not complain of the

Jot

[55]

lot which heaveh has caft for me : I am young
and healthy, and am not afhamed of owing my
fupport to myfelf — yet think me not proud, or
that I difdain your generous offers. I will re*
■member you in my orifons, and will pray for
bleflings on your gracious felf and your noble
miftrefs — if I figh. Lady, it is for others, not
for myfelf. Now I have it. Madam; faid BiaKca^
whifpering the Princefs. This is certainly the
young peafant; and by my confcience he is in
love ^Well! this is a charming adventure!

*

—do, Madam, let us fift him. He does not
know you, but takes you for one of my Lady
HtppolHa^s women. Art thou not afliamed, Bi-
anco! faid the Princefs : What right have we
to pry into the fecrets of this young man's
heart ? he feems virtuous and frank, and tells
us he is unhappy : Are thofe circumftances that
authorize us to make a property of him ? how
are we intitled to his confidence ? Lord ! Ma*
dam, how little you know of love ! replied Bi*
^moa.: Why lovers have no pleafure cqtial to

£ 4 4alkin^

[56]

talking of thjcir miftref§. And would you have^
tne become a pcafant's confident ? faid the Prin-
cefs. Well then. Jet me talk to him : Said jBi-

% ^ ■ «...

anca : Though I have the honour of being yoiir
Highnefs's piaid of honour, I was not always
fo great : Befides, if love levels ranks, it rai(es
them too : I have a refpeft for any young man
in love — peace! fimpleton j faid the Princcft.
Though he faid he was unhappy, it does not
follow that he muft \ie ip love. Think of all
that has happened to-day, and tell fne if there are
no misfortunes but what love .caufes. Stranger,
refumed the Princefs, if thy (nisfortunes have
not been occafioned by thy own fault, and are
within the compafs of the Princefs Hlppoliid'^
power to redrefs, I wjll take uppn me to anfwer
that fhe will be thy proteftrefs. When thou
art difmifled from this caftle, repair to holy fa-
ther Jerome at the convent ajJjoining to the
church of St. Nicholas^ and make thy ftory
known to him, as far as thou thinkeft meet:
He will not fail to inform the Princefs, i«^ho \\

[ 57]

the mother of all that want her affiftancc. Fare-
wel: It is not fcemly for mc to hold farther
converfe with a man at this unwonted hour.
May the Saints guard thee, gracious Lady ! re-
plied the peafant — but oh ! if a poor and worth-
lefs Granger might prefume to beg a minute's
audience farther— —am I fo happy ? — the cafe-
ment is not fliutr— might I venture to afk — fpeak
iquickly; faid Matilda i the morning dawns a
pace: Should the labourers come into the fields
and perceive us — What wouldft thou afk? — I
know not how — I know not if I dare — faid the

young flranger faltering yet the humanity

with which you have fpoken to me emboldens
r-Lady i dare I trufl you ? — Heavens ! faid
Maiilday What djofl thou mean ? with what
)vouldfl thou truft me ?— fpeak boldly, if thy
fccret is fit to be /entrufted to a virtuous breaft

1 would afk, faid tjie peafant, recolleding

himfelf, whether what I have heard from the
domeflics is true, that the Princefs is mifUng
from the caflle? What imports it to thee to

know i

[58]

know ? replied Matilda. Thy firft words bc-
fpoke a prudent and becoming gravity. Doft
thou come hither to pry into the fccrcts of Mart--
frtdf-'kAvtvi. Ihavebeenmiftakcnin thee. Say-
ing thefe words, (he fliut the cafcment haftily,
without giving the young man time to reply,
I had aficd more Rifely, faid the Prindefs to
^ianca with fom6 (harpnefs, if I had let thee
converfe with this peafant : His inquifilivenefi
feems of a piece with thy own. It is not fit for
me to argue with your Highnefs, replied Bi-
anca 5 but perhaps the queftions I fhould have
put to him, would have been more to the pur-
pofe, than thofe you have been pleafed to a(k
him. Oh! no doubt j faid Matilda \ you are
a* very difcreet perfonage ! may I know what
you would have a(ked him ? A by-ftander often
fees more of the game than thofe that play:
anfwered Bianca, Does your Highnefs think.
Madam, that his queftion about mV Lady JJk^
Mia was the refult of mere curiofity ? No, no.
Madam ; there is more in it than you great

folks

[ 59]

folks are aware of. Lop^ told me that all the
fervants believe this youug fellow contrived my
Lady Ifahlla's efcape — now, pray, Madam,

obferve you and I both know that my Lady

ifabelk never much fancied the Prince your bro-
ther ^Well ! he is killed juft in the critical

minute — I accufe nobody, A helmet falls from
the moon— fo, my Lord, your father fays ; but
lo^ and all the fervants fay that this young
fpark is a magician, and ftole it from Alfonfo\
tomb — have done with this rhapfody of imper-
tinence, faid Matilda. Nay, Madam, as you
picafe; cried Bianca — yet it is very particular
tbo', that my Lady IfabiUa fliould be miffing the
very fame day, and that this young forcerer
ihould be found at the mouth of the trap-door
—I accufe nobody— but if my young Lord
came honeftly by his death — Dare not on thy
duty, faid Matilda^ to breathe a fufpicion on
the purity of my dear IJabella^ fame — purity, ok"
pot purity, faid Bianca^ gone fhd is — a ftranger
\% found that nobody knows ; You queftion him

yourfelf:

[6o]

yt)orfclf : He tells you he is in love, or un-
happy, it is the fame thing — nay; he owned
lie was unhappy about others; and is any body
unhappy about another, unlefs they are in love
with them ? and at the very next word, he
a(ks innocently, poor foul ! if my Lady IfabeUa
is miffing — to be fure, faid Matilda^ thy obfer-
vations are not totally without foundation-^

Ifabtlla^s flight amazes me : The curiofity of
this ftranger is very particular — yet Ifabella never
concealed a thought from me — fo (he told you,
faid Blanca^ to fifh out your fecrets — but who
knows, Madam, but this ftranger may be fome
Prince in difguife? — do. Madam, let me open
the window, and a(k him a few queftions. No,
replied, Matilda^ . I will aflc him myfelf, if he
knows aught of Ifabella : He is not worthy that
I ihould converfe farther with him. She was
going to open the cafement, when they heard
the bell ring at the poflerh-gate of the caftJe,
which is on the right- hand of the tower, where

Matilda

[6i I

Matilda lay. This prevented the Princcls frocH
renewing the converfation with the ftranger.

After continuing filent for fome time ; I am
perfuaded, faid (he to BiancQi that whatever be
the caufe of IfaheM% flight, it had no unworthy
motive. If this flranger was acceffary to it,
file muft be fatisfied of his fidelity and worth.
I obferved, did not you, Bianca ? that his words
ivcrc tinftured with an uncommon infufion of
piety. It was no ruffian's fpccch : His phrafes
v^re becoming a man of gentle birth. I told
you, Madam, faid Bianca^ that I was furc he
was fome Prince in difguife-r-yct, faid Matilda^
if he was privy to her ci^fel^} Kpw will you account
for his not accompaliying her in her flight?
why expofe himfelf unneceflTarily and rafhly ta
niy Father's refentment ? As for that, Madam,
replied (he, if he could get from under the hel-
niet, he will find ways of eluding your FatherV
anger. I do not doubt but he has fome talifman
or other about him — You refolve every thing
ifJiO magic 5 faid Matildft ^^h\xK a man who has

any

r 62 ]

any intercourfe with infernal fpirits, does not
dare to make ufe of thofe tremendous and holy
words, which he uttered. Didfl: thou not ob-
ferve with what fervour he vowed to remember
m^ to heaven in his prayers? — yes; IfabtUa
was undoubtedly convinced of his piety^ Com-
mend me to the piety of a young fellow and a
damfel that confult to elope ? faid Bianca. No,
no. Madam; my Lady IJahelJa is of another
guefs mould than you take her for* She ufed
indeed to ligh and lift up her eyes in your com^
pany, becaufe fhe knows you are a Saint-— but
when your back was turned — You wrong her ;
faid Matilda : Ifabella is no hypocrite ; She has
a due fenfe of devotion, but never afFeded a call
(he has not. On the contrary, fhe always com-
bated my inclination for the cloyfier : And
though I own the myftery fhe has made to me
of her flight, confounds me ; though it feems
inconfi&ent with the frlendOiip between us; I
cannot forget the difmtereftted warmth with which

fhe always oppofcd my taking the veil : She

wifhed

[63 J

wlfhed to fee me married, though my dower
would have been a lofs to her and my brother's
children. For her fake I will believe well of this
young peafant. Then you do think there i»
fome liking between them; faid Bianca ^^V/hilc
Ibe was fpeaking, a fervant came haftily into the
chamber and told the Princefs, that the Lady
Ifdella was found. Where ? faid Matilda. She
has taken fan£tuary in St. Nicholas's church; re-
plied the fervant: Father Jerome has brought
the news hinafelf : he is below with his Highneft.
Where is my Mother ! faid Matilda* She is-
m her own chamber. Madam, and has a(ked
for you.

Manfred had rifen at the firft dawn of lights
and gone t.o Hippolita's apartment, to inquire if

fte knev*^ ought of IfabeUa, While he was
queftioning her, word was brought that Jerome^
demanded to fpeak with him.. Manfred^ liille
fufpcfting the caufe of the Friar's arrival, and
knowing he was employed by Hippollta in her
charities, ordered him to be admitted, intending

to

[ 64 ]

to leave them together, while he piirfaed his
fearch after Ifabella, Is your bufinefs with me
or the Princefs ? faid Manfred. With both.
Replied the holy man. The Lady Ifabella —
what of her ! interrupted Manfred eagerly — *

is at St. Nicholases altar, replied Jerome, That
is no bufineTs of Hippolita i faid Manfred with
confufion : let us retire to my chamber. Father ;
and inform me how ihe came thither. No;
my Lord ; replied the good man with an air of
iirmnefs and authority, that daunted even the
refolute Manfred^ who could not help revering
the faint-like virtues of Jerome: My commilHon
is to both ; and with your Highnefs's good-
liking, in the prefence of both I fliall deliver
it — but firft, my Lord, I muft. interrogate the
Princefs, whether fhe is acquainted with the
caufe of the Lady Ifabella*s retirement from your
caftle — no, on my foul ; faid Hippolita: does Ifa^
bella charge me with being privy to- it ? — Father,
interrupted Manfred^ I pay due reverence to
your holy profefSon i but I am fovereign here,

and

[65 ]

and will allow no meddling prieft to interfere
in the affairs of my domeftic. If you have
oug^t to fay, attend me to my chamber — ^I do
not ufe to let my Wife be acquainted with the
fecret affairs of my State ; they are not within
a woman's province. My Lord, faid the holy
man, I am no intruder into the fecrets of
families. My office is to promote peace, to
beal divifions^ to preach repentance, and teach
mankind to curb their headflrong paffions. I for*
give your Highnefs's uncharitable apoflrophe : I
know my duty, and am the minifterof a mightier
prince than Manfred, Hearken to him who fpeaks
through my organs. Manfred ti[embled with
rage and fliame. HippoUia^s countenance de-
clared her aftonifhment and impatience to know
where this would end : her filence more ftrongly
fpoke her obfervance of Manfred.

The Lady IfabeBcy refunded Jerome^ commends
herfelf to both your HighnefTes; flie thanks
both for the kindnefs with which (he has been
treated in your caftle ; She deplores the lofs of
your fon, and her own misfortune in not be-

F coming

[ 66 ]

coming the daughter of fuch wife and noble

Princes, whom (he fhall always refped as Pa^

rents \ fhe prays for uninterrupted union and

felicity between you: [Mcatfred^s colour changed]

but as it is no longer poilible for her to be allied

to you, fhe intreats your confent to remain in

fandluary, till Ihe can learn news of her father,

or, by the certainty of his death, be at liberty,

with the approbation of her guardians, to difpofe

of herfelf in fuitable marriage. I fhall give no

fuch confent; faid the Prince, but infifl oil

her return to the cailie without delay : I am an*

fwerablefor her perfon to her guardians, and will

not brook her being in any hands but my xxyrn.

Your Highnefs will recoUedl wketfaer that can

any longer be proper: replied the Friar. I

want no monitor, faid Alarmed colouring.

IfabeMs condud leaves room for ftrange fufpi-

cions —-and that young villain, who was at

lead the accomplice of her flight, if ijipt the

caufe of it — — the caufe ! interrupted ferome ;

was a young man the caufe ! This is not to Be

borne I cried Manfred, Am I to be bearded in my

own

[67]

own palace by an infolent Monk ! thou art privy
I guefs, to their amours. I would pray to heaven
to clear up your uncharitable furmizes, faid
Jerome^ if your Highoefi were not fatisfied in
your confcience how unjuftly you accufe me.
I do pray to heaven to pardon that uncharitable-
nefs: And I implore your Highnefs to leave
the Princefs at peace in that holy place, where
flie is not liable to be diflurbed by fuch vain and
worldly fantafies as dtfcourfes of love from any
man. Cant not to me, faid Manjredy but
return and bring, the Princefs to her duty. It is
my duty tb prevjsnt her return hither ; faid
Jfi^*"* She is where orphans and virgins are
fafef'fr6bi the fnares and wiles of this world ;
and nothing but a parent's authority fliall take
her thence. I am her parent^ cried Manfred^ and
demand hen She wiftied to have you for her
parent; faid the Friar : But heaven that forbad
that connedlion, has for ever diflblved all ties
betwixt you : And I announce to your Highnefs
^— ^ flop ! audacious man, faid Manfred^ and
dread my difpleafure* Holy father, faid Btp-

F 2 polHa^

[68]

f^ta^ it is your office to be no refpefler of
perfons: you muft fpeak as your duty prcfcribes:
But it is my duty to hear nothing that it pleafes
not my Lord I fhould hear. Attend the Prince
to his chamber. I will retire to my oratory,
and pray to the biefled virgin to infpire you
with her holy councils, and to reftore the heart
of my gracious Lord to its wonted peace and
gentlenefs* Excellent woman ! faid the Fxiar-^
tny Lord, I attend your pleafure.

Manfredy accompanied by the Friar, pafied
to his own apartment, where (hutting the door,
I perceive, father, faid he, that IfabeBa has
acquainted you with my purpofe. Now bear
my refolve, and obey* Reafons of flate, moil
urgent reafons, my own and the fafety of t^'i
people, demand that I ihould have a fom
It is in vain to exped an heir from ICppclita.
I have made choice of IfalnUa. You muil bring
her back; and you muft do more. I know
.the influence you have with KppoUta : her con-
fcience is in your hands. She is, I allow, a

' faultlcfs

J

[69 ]

faultlefs woman : Her foul ia fet on heaveii} and
fcorns the little grandeur of this world: you
can withdraw her from it intirely. Perfuad«
her to confent to the diflblution of our marriage^
and to retire into a monafiery--f(he (hall eadow
one if {he will ; and flie 0iall hav^ the means
of bemg as liberal to your order as (he or you
can wiih. Thus you will divert the calamities
Azt are hanging over our heads, and have the
merit of faving the principality of Otranto from
deftrudion. You are a prudent man, an4
though the warmth of my temper betra,yed me
into fome unbecoming expre^fions, I honour
your virtue, and wiih to be indebted to you
for the repofe of my life and the prefervation of
my family.

The will of heaven be done ! (aid the Friar*
I am but its wortblefs inflrument. It ix^akes
ufe of my tongue, to tell thee, Prince, of thy
unwarrantable deftgns. The injuries of the
virtuous mppoKta have mounted to the ttirqne

of pity. By me thou art reprimanded for thy

F 3 adulteroM^

i7o]

adulterous intention of repudiating her : By me
thou art warned not to purfue the inceftuous
defign on thy contra^d daughter. Heaven diat
delivered her from thy fury, when the judgments
fo recently fallen on thy houfe ought to have
infpired thee with other thoughts, will continue
to watch over her. Even I, a poor and defpifed
Friar, am able to proted her from thy violence
^—7, (inner as I am, and uncharitably reviled
by your Highnefs^ as an accomplice ofl know
not what amours, foorn the allurements with
which it has pleaied thee to tempt mine ho-
nefty. I love my order j I honour devout
feuls ; I refped the pi^y of thy Princers<*-»but
I will not betray the confidence (he repofes in
me, nor ferve even the caufe of religion by foul
and fmful compliances— but for footh ! the wel-
fare of the ftate depends on your Highnefs
having a fon. Heaven nwcks the fhort-fightcd
views of man. But yefter-morn, wkofe houfe
was fo great, fb flourifliing as Manfnd^^ I -—
where is young Conrad now ! — my Lord^ 1

refpecSl

I 71 3

refped your tears —< but I mean not to check
them — let them flow. Prince ! they will
weigh more with heaven towards the welfare of
thy fubje£ts9 than a marriage, which, founded
on luft or policy, could never profper. The
fcepter, which paiTed from the race of Alfmfo to
thine, cannot be preferved by a match which
the church will never allow. It is the will of
the moft High that Manfred s namemuft perifli;
refign yourfelf, my Lord, to its decrees ; and
thus deferve a crown that can never pafs away —
come, my Lord; I like this forrow — ^let us
return to the Princefs : She is not apprized of
your cruel intentions ; nor did I mean more
than to alarm you. You faw with what gentle
patience, with what efforts of love, flie heard,
fhc rejeded bearing the extent of your guilt. I
know Ihe longs to fold you in her arms, and
affurc you of her unalterable afFeaion. Father,
faid the Prince, you miftake my compunftion :
true; I honour fli^^iVij's virtues 5 I think her
a Saint j and wilh it were for mjMfours health

F 4 i^^ »

[72 ]

te tie fafter the knot that has united us<*<-biit
alas I Father, you know not the bittereft of my
pangs ! it is fome time that I have had fcruples on
the legality of our union ; HippoUta is related to
me in the fourth degree--*it is true, we had a
difpenfation : But I have been informed that fhe
had alfo been contra&ed to another. This it is
that fits heavy at my heart : To this ftate of
unlawful wedlock I impute the viiitation that
has fallen on me in the death of Cmradf'-^
eafe my confcience of tfiis burden : diflblve
our marriage, and aceompliih the work of god-
linefs which your divine exhortations have. com*
menced in my foul.

How cutting was the anguifh which the
good man felt, when he perceived this turn
in the wily Prince' He trembled for H^fo^
lita^ whofe ruin be faw was determined ; and
he feared if Manfred bad no hope of recover-
ing Ifabella% that his impatienpe for a ion
would dire£): him to fome other obje<9, who
might not be equally proof againft the texpptatbn

of

[73]

of Mof^eeT^ rank. For fome time the holjr
man remained abforbed in thought. At lengthy
conceiving fome hope from delay, he thought
the wifeft conduct would be to prevent the
Prince from defpatring of recovering IfAilla*
Her the Friar knew he could difpofe, from
her affection to Hippolita^ and from the averfion
ihe had expreffed to him for Manfred^% addrefles^
tofecond his views, till thecenfures of the church
cotild be fulminated againft a divorce. With
this intention, as if ftruck with the Prince's
fcruples j he at length faid ; my Lordy I have
been pondering on what your Highnedi has
laid ; and if in truth ic is delicacy of confcience
that is the real motive of your repugnance to
your virtuous Lady, far be it from me to en-
deavour to harden your heart. The church is
an indulgent mother : unfold your griefs to her :
ihe alone can adminifter comfort to your foul,
either by fatisfying your confcience, or upon
examination of your fcruples, by fetting you
fit liberty, and indulging you in the lawful

means

[74]

means of continuing your lineage. In the latter
cafe, if the Lady IfidfeSa can be brought to

confent Manfred^ Tvho concluded that he

had either over-reached the good man, or that
his firft warmth had been but a tribute paid to
appearance;, was oveijoyed at his fudden turn,
and repeated the moil magnificent promifes, if
he fhould fucceed by the Friar's mediation.
The well-meaning Priefl fuiFered him to deceive
himfelf, folly determined to traverfe his views,
inflead of feconding them.

Since we now underfland one another, re-
fumed the Prince, I expe£b. Father, that you
fati^fy me in one point. Who is the youth
that I found in the vault ? He mufl have
been privy to IfaleM% flight: Tell me truly;
is he her lover? or is he an agent for ano-
ther's paflion? I have often fufpefted Ifahella*s
indifference to my fon : a thoufand circum-
ftances croud on my mind that confirm that fuf*
ptcion. She herfelf was fo confcious of it,
that while I difcourfed her in the gallery, fhe

outran

[75 3

outran my fufpicioas, and endeavoured to juftify
herfelf from coolnefs to Conrad* The Friar,^
who knew nothing of the youth, but what he
had learnt occafionally from the Prii^cefs,
ignorant what was become of him> and not
(ufficiently refledling on the jmpetuofity of
Mm/ud'a temper, conceived that it plight not
be ami& to fow the feeds of jealoufy in his
mind : they might be turned to fome ufe here^
afer, either by prejudicing the Prince againft
IJabella, if he perfifted in that uiiion ; or by di-*
vertlog his attention to a wrong fcent, and em^
ploying his thoughts o^ a vifionary intrigue,
prevent his engaging in any new purfuit. With
this unhappy policy, be anfwercd in a manner
to confirm. Manfred in the belief of fome con-
nexion between IJahtlh and the youth. The
Prince, whofe paffion^ wanted iitUe fuel to.
throw them into a blaze, fell into a rage at
the idea of what the Friar fugge(led. I will
fathom to the bottom of this intrigue^ cried he;.
^ quitting Jerome abruptly, with a command

to

[76]

to remain there till his return, he haflened to
the great hall of the cafile, and ordered the
peafant to be brought before him.

Thou hardened young impoftor ! faid the
Prince, as foon as he faw the youth; what be-
comes of thy boafted veracity now? it was Pro-
▼idence, was it, and the light of the moon,
. that difcovered the lock of the trap-door to thee?
Tell me, audacious boy, who thou art, and
how long thou haft been acquainted with the

Princefs and take care to anfwer with lefs

equivocation than thou didft laft night, or tor-
tures fhall wring the truth from thee. The
young man, perceiving that his fliare in the
flight of the Princefs was difcovered, and con-
cluding that any thing he fhould fay could no
longer be of fervice or detriment to her, rc-

T

plied, I am no impoftor, my Lord, nor have I
deferved opprobrious -language. I anfwered to
every queftion your Highnefs put to me laft
night with the fame veracity that I (hall fpeak
now : And that will not be from fear of your

tortures.

[77 3

tortures, but becaufe my foul abhors a falfliood.
Fleafe to repeat your queftions, my Lord ; I
am ready to give you all the fatisfaAion in my
power. You know my queftions, replied the
Prince, and only want time to prepare an eva^
(ion. Speak dire£Uy; who art thou ? and how
long baft thdu been known to the Princefs ? I
zm a labourer at the next village ; faid the pea*
fant; my name is Theoden, The Princefs found
me in the vault laft night: Before that hour I
never was in her prefence. I may believe as
much or as little as I pleafe of this : Said Man^-
fredi but I will hear thy own ftory, before I
examine into the truth of it. Tell me, what
reafon did the Princefs give thee for making her
efcape ? thy life depends on thy anfwer. She told
me, replied Theodorsy that fhe was on the brink
of deftrudlion, and that if fhe could not efcap%
from the caftle, (he was in danger in a few
moments of being made miferable for ever. And
on this flight foundation, on a filly girl's report,

iaid Manfrgiy thou didft hazard my difpleafure !

I fear

(78 1

1 fear no mean's difpleafure, faid Tbeedon^ when
a woman in diftrefs puts herfeif under my pro-
teAion— During this examination^ Matilda was
going to the apartment of JHSppolita. At the
upper end of die hall, where Manfred fat, was
a boarded gallery with latticed windows, thro'
which Matilda and Bianca were to pafs. Hear-
ing her father's voice, and feeing the fervants
affembled round him, (he flopped to learn the
cccafion. The prifoner foon drew her atten«
tion : The fteady and compofed manner in
which he anfwered^ and the gallantry of his
laft reply, which were the firft words flie heard
di(lin(5lly interefted her in his favour. His per-
fon was noble, handfome, and commanding)
even in that fituation : But his countenance
foon engroffed her whole care. Heavens ! ' Bi-
mca^ faid the Princefs foftly, do I dream? or is
not that youth the exa<9: refemblance of A^mf/^
pidlure in the gallery ? She could fay no more,
for her father's voice grew louder at every word.
This bravado, faid he, furpaffcs all thy former

infolence*

[79]

infolence. Thou (halt experience the wrath
with which thou dareft to trifle. Seize hun^ con-
tinued Mar^ed^ and bind him-— the fir ft news
the Princefs hears of her champion Ihall be^
that he has loft bis head for her fake* The in«
jvfiice of which thou art guilty towards me^
faid Theodore^ convinces me that I have done a
good deed in delivering the Princefs from thy
tyranny. May &e be happy, whatever be-
comes of me ! This is a Lover ! cried Mmfni
ia a rage : A peaiant within fight of death is not
animated by fuch fentiments. Tell me, tell me,
ralh boy, who thou art, or the rack (hall force
thy fecret from thee. Thou haft threatened me
with death already, faid the youth, for the truth I
have told thee : If that is all the encouragement
I am to cxpeft for fmcerity, I am not tempted
to indulge thy vain curiofity farther. Then
thou wilt not fpeak ! faid Manfred \ I will not;
replied be. Bear him away into the court-yard ;
faid Manfred ; I will fee his head this inftant fe-
I vercd

[So]

Tered from his body — Matilda fainted at hfear*
ing thofe words. Bianca fhrieked, and cried,
Help ! help ! the Princefs is dead ! Manfred
ftarted at this ejaculation, and demanded what
was the matter I The young peaiant, who
heard it too, was ftruck with horror, and aflced
eagerly the fame queftion ; but Manfred ordered
him to be hurried into the court, and kept there
for execution, till he had informed himfelf of
the caufe of Biarud% Ihrieks. When he learned
the meaning, he treated it as a womanifh pa-
nic, and ordering Matilda to be carried to her
apartment, he ruflied into the court, and call*
ing for one of his guards, bad T^heodore kneel
down, and prepare to receive the fatal blow.

The undaunted youth received the bitter fen-
tence with a refignation that touched every
heart, but Manfred*^. He wifhed darneftly to
know the meaning of the words he had heard
relating to the Princefs; but fearing to exafpe-
rate the tyrant more againft her, he defifted.
The only boon he deigned to afk, was, that he

might

[8i ]

might be permitted to have a Gonfeflbrj atyd
make his peace with heavetv Manfredy who
hoped by the confefTor's means to come at the
youth's hiftory, readily granted his requeft :
and being convinced that Father Jerome was
now in his intereft, he ordered him to be called
and fhrieve the prifoner. The holy man^ who
had little forefeen the cataftrophe that his im-
prudence occafioned, fell on his knees to the
Prince, and adjured him in the moft folemn
manner not to (bed innocent blood. He ac- '
cufed himfelf in the bittereft terms for his indif-
cretion, endeavoured to difculpate the youth,
and left no method untried to foften the tyrant's
rage. Manfred^ more incenfed than appeafed
by Jeromes interceffion, whofe retraftation now .
made him fufpefl he had been impofed upon by
both, commanded the Friar to do his duty, tell-
ing him he would not allow the prifoner many
minutes for confeflion. Nor do I a(k many, my
Lord: Said the unhappy young man. My fins^
thank heaven ! have not been numerous ; nor

G exceed

[82 ]

exceed wbat might be expeded at my year 9.
Dry your tears, good father, and let us dif-
patch : This is a bad world ; nor have I had
caufe to leave it with regret. Oh ! wretched
youth ! faid Jerome ; how canft thou bear the
fight of me with patience ? I am thy murderer ?
it is I have brought this difmal hour upon thee f
I forgive thee from my foul, faid the youth, as
I hope heaven will p'ardoh me. Hear my con-
fef&on, father ; and give me thy blefling. How
can I prepare thee for thy paiTage, as I ought ?
faid Jerome. Thou canft not be favcd without
pardoning thy foes — and canft thou forgive
that impious man there f I can ; faid Theodore i
I do — And does not this touch thee ! cruel
Prince ! faid the Friar. I fent for thee to con-
fefs him, faid Mmfred&trnly ; not to plead for
him. Thou didft firft incenfc me againft hjm
— - his blood be upon thy bead ! It will ! it will
faid the good man, in an agony of forrow.
Thou and I muft never hope to go, where this
bkffed youth is going! Difpatch! faid Man^

fred:

[83 ]

frti: I am 1)0 more to be moved by the whin-
ing of pricfts, than by the (hrieks of women.
What ! faid the youth ; is it poflible that my
fate could have occafioned what I heard ! is the
Princefs then again in thy power ? Thou doft
kut remember me of my wrath j faid Manfred:
Prepare thee, for this moment is thy laft. The
youth, who.felt bis .indignation rife, and who
was touched with the forrow which he faw he
had infufed into all the fpeftatgrs, as well as
into the Friar, fupprcffod bis emotions, and put-
ting off his doublet, and unbuttoning his collar,
belt down to his prayers. As he ftooped, his
Ihirtflippeddown below his. fhoulder, and dif-

coveied the mark of a bloody arrow. Gracious
heaven ! cried the holy man ftarting, what do
I fee ! it is my child ! my Thaodore !

The paffions that enfued, muft be conceived ;
they cannot be painted. The tears of the affift-
ants were fufpended by wonder, rather than
flopped by joy. They feemed to inquire in
the eyes of their Lord what they ought to feel.

. G 2 Surprife,

r ^4 ]

Surprlfe, doubt, tcndernefs, refped, fucceeJed
each other in the countenance of the youth.
He received with modefl: fubmiflion the efFufion
of theoW man's tears and embraces : Yet afraid
of giving a loofe to hope, and fufpe£ting from
what had pafled the inflexibility of Manfreis
temper, he caft a glance towards the Prince, as if
to fay, canft thou be unmoved at fucb a itene
as this i

Manfred's heart was capable of being touched.
He forgot iiis anger in his aftonifhment j Yet
his pride forbad his owning himfelf afFe£led.
He even doubted whether this difcovery was not
a contrivance of the friar to fave the youth.
What may this mean ? faid he : How can he
be thy fon ? is it confiftent with thy profeiSon
or reputed fanftity to avow a peafant's offtpring
for the fruit of thy irregular amours ! Oh ! God,
faid the holy man, doft.thou queftion his being
mine ? could I feel the anguifb I do, if I were
not his father ? Spare him ! good Prince> fpare
him ! and revile me as thou pleafeft. Spare

him !

[85]

him! fpare him, cried the attendants, for tbi«
good man's fake J Peace ! faid Manfred fternly :
I mud know more, ere I am difpofed to pardon,
A Saint's baftard may be no faint himfelf. In-
jurious Lord ! faid Theodore ? add not infult to
cruelty. If I am this venerable man's fon, tho*

no Prince, as thou art, know, the blood that
flows in my veins — ^yes, faid the Friar, inter-
rupting him, his blood is noble; nor is he that
abjeft thing, my Lord, you fpeak him. He is
my lawful fon ; and Sicily can boaft of few

loufes more ancient than that of Fakonara

but alas ! my Lord, what is blood ! what is
nobility ! We are all reptiles, miferable, finful
creatures. It is piety alone that can diftinguifh
us from the duft whence we fprung, and whither
wemuft return — Truce to your fermon; faid
Manfred: You forget, you are no longer Friar
Jerome^ but the Count of Fakonara^ Let me
bow your hiftory : you will have time to mo-
ralize hereafter, if you fliould not happen to
obtain the grace of that fturdy criminal there.

G 3 Mother

[86}

Mother of God ! faid the Friar, is it poffible
my Lord can refufe a father the life of his only,
his long-loft child ! Trample me, my Lord,
/corn, affiid me, accept my life for his, but
fpare my fon I Thou canft feel then, faid Man*

fredy what it is to lofe an only fon ! a little

hour ago thou didft preach up refignation to
me : My Houfe, if fate fo pleafed, illuft perifli
—but the Count of Falconara — alas ! my Lord,

faid Jeronuj I confefs I have offended ; but ag*
gravate not an old man's fuiFeritigs ! I boaft not
of my family, nor think of fuch vanities — ^it is
nature that pleads for this boy \ it is the me-
mory of the dear woman that bore him— is flic
Theodore^ is (he dead ? — Hei* foul has long been
with the bleflcd : Said Theodore. Oh \ how?
cried Jerome^ tell me — No — flie is happy ! Thou
art all my care now ! — moft dread Lord ! will

you will you grant me my poor boy's life ?

Return to thy convent ; anfwered Manfred'^

conduft the Princefs hither; obey me in what
elfe thou knoweft j and I promife thee the life

of

I

[87]

of thy fon. Oh ! my Lord, faid Jeromey is

my honefty the price I muft pay for this dear
youth's fafety — for me! cried Theodore: Let
me die a thoufand deaths, rather than ftain thy
confcience. What is it the tyrant would exa£l
of thee? is the Princefs ftill fafe fromliis power?
proteA her, thou venerable old man } and let
all the weight of his wrath fall on me. Jerome
icndeavoured to check the impetuoftty of the
youth ; and ere Moirfrtd could reply, the tram-
pling of horfes was heard, and a brazen trum*
pet, which hung without the gate of the caftle,
was fijddenly founded. At the fame inftant the
fable plumes on the enchanted helmet, which
fttU remained at the other end of the court,
were tempcftuoufly agitated, and nodded thrice,
as if bowed by fome invifible wearer.

G 4 CHAP.

[88 ]

CHAP. III.

TIT A N F R E Dh heart mif-gavehim when he
beheld the plumage on the miraculous
cafque fhaken in concert with the founding of
the brazen trumpet. Father ! faid he to yersme^
whom he now ceafed to treat as Count of FaU
tonaray what mean thefe portents ? If I have of-
fended — the plumes were fhaken with greater
violence than before. Unhappy Prince that I
am ! cried Manfred — Holy Father ! will you
not affift me with your prayers ? My Lord,
replied Jeromey heaven is no doubt difpleafed
with your mockery of its fervant$. Submit
yourfelftp the church; and ceafe to perfecute
her minifters. Difmifs this innocent youth j
and learn to refpeft the holy chara£ier 1 wear :

Heaven will not be trifled with: you fee

the trumpet founded again. I acknowledge I
baye been too hafty : f^id Manfred. Father,

do

[89]

do you go to the wicket, and demand who is at
the gate. Do you grant me the life of 7'heo-
iore? replied the Friar. . I do ; faid Manfred %
but inquire who is without !

Jerome falling on the neck of his fon, dif-
charged a flood of tears, that fpoke the fulnefs
of his foul. You promifed to go to the gate ;
faid Manfred. I thought, replied the Friar, your
Highnefs would excufe my thanking you firft in
this tribute of my heart. Go, deareft Sir, faid
Theodore; obey the Prince: I do not deferve
that you fhould delay his fatisfa£tion for me.

Jermey inquiring who was without, was
anfwered a Herald. From whom ? faid ht.
From the Knight of the Gigantic fabre; faid
the Herald ; and I muft fpeak with the ufurper
ofOtranto. Jerome returned to the Prince, and
did not fail to repeat the meflfage in the very
words it had been uttered. The firft founds
ftruck Manfred with terror ; but when he heard
himfelf ftiled ufurper, his rage rekindled, and all
his courage revived. Ufurper ! — infolent villain !
cried he, who dares to queftion my title? retire.

Father^

[9o]

Father; this is ho bufinefs for Monks : I will
meet this prefumptuous man myfelf. Go to
your convent and prepare the Princefs's return :
Your Son fhall be a hoftage for your fidelity :
His life depends on your obedience. Good
heaven ! my Lord, cried JeronUj your Highnefs
did but this inftant freely pardon my child -^
hare you fo foon forgot the interpofilion of
heaven i Heaven, replied Manfred^ does not
fend Heralds to queftion the title of a lawful

Prince 1 doubt whether it even notifies its

will through Friars — but that is your affair,
not mine. At prefent you know my pleafure;
and it is not a faucy Herald, that ihall fave
your fon, if you do not return with the Princefs.
It was in vain for the holy man to reply.
Manfred commanded him to be condiuEled to
th« poflern-gate, and ihut out from the caftle :
And be ordered fome of his attendants to carry
Theodore to the top of the black tower, ^and
gtrard him flri£lly; fcarce permitting the Father
and fon to exchange a hafty embrace at parting.

4 * ': '\ He

[91 ]

He tBen witiulrew to the ball, and feating l|im-
felf in princely fiate, ordered the Herald to be
admitted to bis prefence.

Well ! tbou infolent ! faid the Prince^ what
wouldft thou with me ! I come, replied he, to thee,
Manfred^ ufurper of the principality of Otranto^
from the renowned and invincible Knight, the
Knight of the Gigantic fabre : in the name of
his Lord, Fnderic Marquis of Vscertza^ he de*
mands the Lady IfabiUa^ daughter of that Prince,
whom thou haft bafely and traiteroufly got into
tbj power, by bribing her falfe guardians during
his abfence : and he requires thee to refign the
principality of Oiranto^ which thou hs^ ufufped
from the faid Lord Frederic^ the neareft of blood
to the laft rightful Lord Jlfinfo the good. If
thou doft not inftantly comply with thefe juft
demands, he defies thee to fingle combat to the
laft extremity. And fo faying, the Herald caft
down his warder.

Artd where iB this braggart, who fends thee ?
iaid Mmfied. At the diftance of a league, faid

the

[ 92 ]

ythe Herald : he comes to make good his Lord's
claim againft thee, as he is a true Knight and
thou an ufurper and ravifher.

Injurious as this challenge was, Mdnfrtd re-
flected that it was not bis intereft to provoke
the Marquis. He knew how well-founded the
claim of Frederic was ; nor was this the iirft
time^he had heard of it. Fredeiics anceftors
had aiTumed the flil^e of Princes of Otrai^ioy from
the death of Alfonfo the gpod without iffue j but
Manfredy his father, and grandfather, had been
too powerful for the houfe of Vkema to dif-
poiTefs them* Frederic^ z, martial and amorous
young Prince, bad married a beautiful young
Lady, of whom he was enamoured^ and who
had died in childbed of Ifabella. Her death
afFecS^d him fo much, that he had taken the
crofs and gone to the holy land, where he was
wounded in an engagement againft the infidels,
made prifoner, and reported to be dead. When
the news reached Manfred's ears, he bribed the
guardians of the Lady Ifabelh to deliver her up

to

[ 93 ]

t6 him as a bride for his fon Conrad^ by which
alliance he had propofed to unite the claims of
the two houfes. This motive, on Conrad^s
death, had co-operated to make him fo fuddenly
rcfolve on efpoufing her himfelf ; and the fame
reiledion determined him now to endeavour at
obtaining the confent of Frederic to this marriage.
A like policy infpired him with the thought of
inviting Fredericks champion into his cafile, left
he fliould be informed of I/abel/a*s flight, which
he {lri£tly enjoined his domeftics not to difclofe
to any of the Knight's retinue.

Herald, faid Manfred, as foon as he had dl-
gefted thefe reflexions, return to thy matter,
and tell him, e'er we liquidate our differences
by the fword, Manfred would hold fome con-
verfe with him. Bid him welcome to my caftlc,
where by my faith, as I am a true Knight, he
&all have courteous reception, and full fecurity
for himfelf and followers. If we cannot adjuft
our quarrel by amicable means, I fwear he (hall
depart in fafety, and fhall have full fatisfaflion

according

[Hi

according to the laws of arms : So help me God
and his holy Trinity! the Herald made three
obeifances and retired.

During this interview Jeromis mind was agi-
tated by a thoufand contrary paffions. He
trembled for the life of his fon, and his firft
thought was to perfuade Ifabella to return to the;
caftle. Yet he was fcarce lefs alarmed at the
thought of her union with Manfred, He dreaded
Hippolita*s unbounded fubmiilion to the will of
her Lord; and though he did not doubt but he
could alarm her piety not to confent to a divorce,
if he could get accefs to her; yet (houM Marked
difcover that the obftru£tion came from hiixij
it might be equally fatal to Theodore. He was
impatient to know whence came the Herald,
who with fo little management had queftioned
the title of Manfred: yet he did not dare abfent
himfelf from the convent, left Ifabella ihould
leave it, and her flight be imputed to him. He
returned difconfolatclyto the monaftery, uncertain
on what condudl to refolvc. A Monk, who met

him

[9S]

him in the porch and obierved his ixwiancholf
air, iaid, alas ! brother, is it then true that we
have loft our excellent Princefe Hippolita? The
holy man ftarted, and cried, what meaneft thouy
brother ! I come this infiant from the caftle, and
kft her iti perfect health, MarteHi^ replied the
other Friar, pafled by the convent but a quarter.
of an hour ago on his way from the caftle, and
reported that her Highnefs was dead. All our
brethren arc gone to the chapel to pray for her
happy tranfit to a better life, and willed me to
wait thy arrival. They know thy holy attach-
ment to that good Lady, and are anxious for
Ac afBi£lion it will caufe in thee — indeed we
have all reafoh to weep; ihe was a mother to
our houfe' — but this life is but a pilgrimafgc; we
mnfi liot murmur — we fliall all follow her!
may our end be like her's ! good brother, thou
dre^eft, ' faid Jerome : I tell thee I come from
the caftle, and left the Princcfs well — where is
the Lady IfiAella ? — poor Gentlewoman ! re-
plied the Friar; I told her the fad news, and

offered

[96]

oiFered her fpirltual comfort ; I reminded her of
the tranfitory condition of mortality, and advifed
her to take the veil : I quoted the example of
the holy Princefs Sanchia of Arragon — thy zeal
was laudable, fald "Jerome impatiently ; but at
prcfent it was unneceffary : HippoUta is well —
at leaft I truft in the Lord (he is ; I heard
nothing to the contrary — yet methinks, the
Prince's earneftnefs — well, brother, but where
is the Lady Ifabella ? I know not ; faid the
Friar : She wept much, and faid (he would
retire to her chamber. Jerome left his comrade
abruptly, and hafted to the Princefs, but ihe
was not in her chamber. He inquired of the
domeftics of the convent, but could learn no
news of her. He fearched in vain throughout
the monaftery alid the church, and difpatched
meilengers round the neighbourhood, to get
intelligence if fhe had been feenj but to no pur-
pofe. Nothing could equal the good man's per-
plexity. He judged that Ifabella^ fufpeding
Manfred of having precipitated his wife's deaths

had

[97]

h%i taken the alarm, ind withdrawn hctCtlf to
foiiie ntore fecrct plade of concealment. Thh
hew flight Would probably carry the Prince's
fury to the height* The report of HipfoRta'%
death, though it feemed almoft incredible, in*
creafed Ws confternation ; and though Ifatilia'%
tfcape befpoke her averfion of Manfred, for a
ku(band, Jer^fiH could feci no comfort from it,
whUc it endangered tHc )tfe of his fon. He de-
termined to return to the caftle, and made fe«
veral of his brethren accompany him tQ attcff
his innocence to Manfred^ and, if neCeffary,
join their interceffion with his for Theodorg^

The Prince, in the mean time, had pafi^i
into the court, and ordered thJe gates of the
caftle to be flung open for the recepfton of the
ftranger Knight and his train. In a feiv mmutes
the Cavakade arrived. Firft came twd harbin-
gers with wands* Next a herald, followed by;
two pages and two trumpets. Then an hundred
foot-guards. Thefe were attended by as many
horfc. After them fifty footmen, doathcd in

H fear lee

i^tkt and black> the colours of the I^nf^tk
Then a led horfe. Two heralds on each.Qdo
of a gentleman on horfeKack beting :^, kuMser
with the art?i8 of fJanxsi znAOtranta, quartcwl]^

r a circiimftence thaf nMK:h, ofended Afru*-,

j(|'^-— ^*4Mit be ftifled his fefen^entv Two'
IporcK pages. The KnigM's a^h&xf t^^^%, his
1^8. Fifty nu^^ fpotmen, cM asr h^i^gi^
TwQ .Knigh|*s l^bi^ed in complete, anaour^
Aeir beavers^ down» comrades: to the- pctncipat
Knight) The fqutre» of the two Sai^hi^ car<«
lying their (hields? and devices^ The Kntght*jl
own f(piise« An hundred gentlemeii bearing an
enormous fword^ and'.feemiag to faint under
the weight of itr The Kn^fat himfel^ on a
cbeibuU: (feed, in complete armour^ hisi lance
itr the Jeftr bis -face entirely concealed by hi^
Vizor, which was furmounted by a large plume
Ciffcarlet and Mack feathers. Fifty foet-guarda
'#ith Arums and trumpets clofed theproce^n^
iiririch wheeled ofF to the right and' left to make
feoot for the principal^ Knight*

[^ J

At toon as he api>roached the gate, be flopped; ..
ind the herald advancing, read a^in the words
of the challenge. AhnfruTs eyes were fixed #n
the gigantic fwoUd* arid he fcarce feemed to at- .
tend to the caitel : But his attention wa» fopn*.
diverted by tf tempeft of wind that rofe behind -
hiA. He tomed and beheld the plumes oi the

cftcbaiitied htefaoet agitated in the* fame oxtraor*
dbtrjp'Bianfler aS' before. It required intrtpi-.
Htf 1^9 Mofff^i n^ to fink . under aconcur**
Mee of circuDiflancM thatf Teemed x<y aonounco.
Vki&t. Yev iconung in the prefence of ftran->
geM tO" betray the courage he bid always mani-;
fefked^ he fatd bddly« Sir KnigbN- whoever
Ami art) I bid thee welcome* If dKMi' art o£
itioftsd mould) thy valour fliall meet it^ equal :
And if thou art a'- true Kntf(ht, thod witc fcora
ttf eiil^pby lorcerf to Carry thy points Be thde
tMas from heaven or hell, Adanjfr/d trtiib td
(he rtghteoufnds'of his ^aufe and to'tbe aid o/f
56 t^lkfbsy vAko hUff evet protefbed* his boufi^
Afi]^f$ Sir iPnlght^ and ifepofe thyfelf. To-
il 2 morrow*

I ^^^ ]

marrow thou fhalt have a fair field -, ancT beafveit^
befifiend the jufter fide !

The Knight made na reply, but difmoUntirigi
was conduded by Afe;;^^ to the great hall of
the cafflte. As* they traveifed the court,« the
Kifighrftopped' to gaze at the miracuk)U6 cafqtte;
and kneeling down,- feemed to pray inwacdly
for fome minutes. Rifing, he jnade 4 figo to-

the Prince to lead on. ' As foon as they entered
thr \x$l]r Man/rid propofed' to the ftraogisr to
diramf^ btit< the Knight fiiook his head in token
of refufiiL Sir Kaigbt, £ud Manfred^ . th\$ is^
not courteous y but by my good faich I wUl not
crois thee V tiot ihalfe- thou, have caufe to ,eom-'
plain of the Prince of Qtnmtoi No treachery i»
clefigned on my part; I hope none is intended
ol^ -thine; Here take my gage: fgivi/ig him
lifts ring] your friends and yeu ihaU^^ enjoy- the
Hvm^ of hoipitallty. Reft here, tintil refrefhments
are broaght : li will but give orders for the ac*
toromodation of your train, and return tp/you^
-The three Knightf-bovred as accepting his c^r^

f WI ]

Idy. Marked dircded the ftranger*8 retinue to
be coiidu£led Co an adjacent hofpital^ founded
by the Princers HtfpoEta for the reception of
pilgriffis. At they made the circuit of the court
to return towards the gate, the gigantic fword
burft from the fupporters, and falling to the
ground oppofite to the helmet, remained im-
moveable* Manfrti almoft hardened to preter-
nataral ^qppearances, furmounted the fliock of
this new prodigy ; and returning to the hali»
where by this time the feaft was ready, he in-
vited his filent guefts to take their'Places. MoH'^
frdf however ill his heart was at eafe, endea-
voured to infpire the company with mirth* He
put feveral queftions to them, but was anfwered
ooly by figns. They raifed their vizors but
fiifficiently to feed themfelves, and that fpar-
iflgly. Sirs, £ud the Prince, ye are the firft
guefls I ever tieated within thefe walls, who^
fcorned to hold any intejcourfe with me : Nor
has it oft been cuftomary, I ween, for Princes to
hazard their ftate and dignity againft ftrangera

H 3 and

ini mutes. You fay you come in the name of
frederk of Vtcenza ; I have ever heard that he
ii^as a gallant and courteous Knight ; nor would
he, I am bold to fay, think it beneath him to
Inix in focial converfe with a Prince that is his
iqiial, and not unknown by deeds in arms.-
Still ye arc filent — well V be it as it may
By the laWs of hofpitality and chivalry ye arc
matters under this roof : Y<» fhall do your plca-
fircs — but come, give me a goblet of wine ;
ie will fiot refufc to pledge me to the healths
of your fair miftrcfles. The priiKipa! Knight
fighed and crofled himfelf, and was rifing from
<hc board— Sir Knight, fald Manfred^ what I
i^aid was but in fport : I fhail conftrain you in
nothing : Ufe your good liking. Since mirth
i% not your mood, let us be fad. Bufmefs majr
hit your fancies better : Let us withdraw ; and
Bear if what I have to unfold, may be better
reliAed than the vain efforts 1 have made for
your paftime.

( »3 ]

' JBbi^td then conducing the tbtee Sniglitr'
ihto sin inner chamber, (but the door, and in-'
Vtung theih to be feated, liegali thus, addreffing
tdntfdff to the chief perfonage.

Yoa come. Sir Knight, as I <nnderftand, in
the name of the Marqais of Vtctnza^ to re-de-*
Aahd the Lady ifcAelk his daughter, who has
been contraAed in the face of holy church to
my fm^ 1^ the confent of her legal gvardians 4
ikA to ii«%iiire me to refign my dominions to
jfour Lord, who gives himfelf lor the neareft of
Mood to Frince A^hftfk^ whofe 4oul<God.reft ! X
Adl fpteak to the lacter article of your demanda
itfl. Vou jmift know, yom: Lord knows, that
I eajoy the principafity of Otramo from my fa-
ther D6H Ahnuel^ as he receired it from his &-
Aer Ddn Bicmri^. Alfmfi^ their prededeflbr,
dyii^ cbildlefs in the Holy Lted, bequeathed
his eftases to my grandfather DoH 'Ricardo^ vk
cosfideration of his faichfiil fervices^-— the
ftranger ihook his head — Sir Knight, faid Man^
fnd warmly, Ricardo was a valiant and uprig&e

H4 man;

man i be was a pious man^ witpefs fai9 immi*'
Acent foundation of the adjoining church and
two convents. |Ie was peculiarly patronized
by St. Nicbqtas-^my grafidfachcr yi^as lncapal)le
■ 'I fay, Sir^ pop Ricardo was incapable — fx-
cufe-mei your interruption has diford^rpd mp^
-^I vcMratc tjic pemqry of my grandfather-r
well f Sir$9 he held ^|iis p(late ; he held it . by
his good fward ^nd by the ff^vpyr of St. Nicholas
-r-fp did my father i and fo, Sir^, vi^Ui I> Pome
what come will-r— but /r/flfer/f, your I^rd, 13
i)eaceft m blood-^I have cpofepted to put my
title totheiflue of the fword-^oes that Imply.
^ yitious title ?— I inight have aflted, where is
Frederif your Lord ? Report fpeaks him dead iq
captivity, Yqu fay, your adions fay, \\t livc«
7-I queftion it not— I inight, Sirs, I might— but
I do not. Other Prince? wfpuld bid Frederic
take his inheritance by force, if he can : They
would not ftakc their dignity on a fmglc com-
bat : They would not fubmit it to the decifion
ef HPknown mutes !-r- pardon oie, Gentlemen,
i lam

!- • I

[ »«>s 1

1 am too 9f^tn : But fuppofe youifelvcs m my
jituation: As ye are flout Knights, woiild it
i}ot move your cboler tq have your own and tbe
bonouiT of your anceftors called in queftion i -^
t)ut to the point. Ye require me to deliver up
the Lady ^^/iZn— — *Sir$, I muft aft if ye are
^utbofiz^d tp receive her ? Tbe Knight nodded*
llecetve her — continued Ma^fred\ well! yon
m authorized to receive herrr— -b|it, gentle
Knight) may I aik if you have full powers)
The Knight nodded. 'Tis well : Said ^409*
frei: Then hear what I have to offer— ye fee,
Gendemen^ l^ore you the moft unhappy of
men ! [he bega)i to weep] afibrd me your com*
paffion ; I a(n intitled to it : Indeed I am.
Know, I have loft my only hope, my joy,
the fupport of my houfe--- — Cenrgd died y^er
fnorning. The Knights difcovered figns of fur-
prife. Yes, Sirs, face has difpofed of my fon*
lUella is at liberty -r- Do you then reftore her I
mti the chief Knight, breaking filence. Af*
fprd me your patience : Said Manfred. I rejoice

to

to 4iild, hy this teftimony oF yoar |;6it)8- trills
•rhae this matter may "be adjufted vi^thooC ^IdoA.
It is mo inttreft of imne di6l4rtes what ficde I
iiiire tfiutber to iay. Ye hfAitAd m me u aim
•difgufted with (he world: The M». of lOf Ibit
has weaned me from earthly cares. Power and
greatnefe iiave no longer any charms hi mf
eyes. I wiflied to traitfmit the fcepter I had
ftcetved from my anceftors with honour to iiqr
fon — btttlfaat is over i Life i€felf js 4b4ddMEp«
rent to nie» that I accepted your defiance wkh
joy: A good Knight cannot go to the grave
with more fatisfafiion dian wlien falling in his
vocation. Whatever is the will of heaven^ I
itibmit ; ibr alast Sirs, I iam a man of ttiany
forrows. Marfud is no objed of envy-*— -btit
ho doubt you are acquainted with my ftory.
The Knight made figns of ignbrance^ and
icemed curious to have Manfred proceed. Is i€
^oilTible, SirS) continued Che Prince^ that my
ilory ihould be a fecret to you ? have you heard

r.othiiig relating to me and the Princeis lJipp9^

Ika?

[ I07 ]

tttf Thay fliodc their head)*— iio 1 dius thel^
Sirs, it is. You think ne ambitious : Ainbi-
ikai alas I is compoCed of more ruggjed mate*
nat|. If' I wera aoibitious, I OiouU not for h
many years have been a prey to all the heli of
eoafcietitious (cniples -<« but I weary your pati*,
tfnce : I wilt be brief. * Know then^ that I have
long been trouUed in mind on my unioo with
tbe Princefs I£ffalks.r^Oh I Sirs, if ye were
acquainted with that excellent woman! if ye
knew that I adore her Jike a miftreft, and
cberjih ber as a friend—- bat man was not boro
for perfeA faappineis ! ihe ihares my fcruptes^
and with her con&nc I have brought this mat-
trc before tbe church, for we are related within
the forbidden degrees. I expefi every hour tbe
definitive fentence that muft feparate us for ever
•Trlam fur^ you feel for me— I fee you do — •
pardon thefe tears ) The Knights gaeed on each
other, wondering where this would end« Jldm-^
fred continued. The death of my ibn betiding
while my foul was under this anxiety, I thought

of

«r nothing but reftgfiing. my dooiinions, and re»
tiring for ever from the fight of mankind. Mf
only difficulty was to fix on a fuccefibr) who
would be tender of my people, and to difyoic
of the L^ I/abelht who is dear to me as my
own blood. I was willing to reftore the line
ef Alfanfi^ • even in his mo^ difiant kindred :
And dKmgh, pardon me, I am fatisfied i^ was
bis Will that Ricd^do^s lineage ihould take place
of his own relations ; yet where was I to fearch
for thefe relations? I knew of none but Frderu
your Lords lie was a captive to the infideli, or
deads and were be living, and at home, would
he quit the ilourilhtiig ftate of Viwasa for the
inconfiderabte principality , of Otr^M$? li he
would not, could I bear the thought of feeing a
faurd unfeeling Viceroy fet over my poor faithful
people ?-*-fory Sirs, I love my people, and thank
heaven am beloved by them— but ye will aft,
whither tends this long difcourfe ? briefly then,
thus. Sirs. Heaven in your arrival feems to point
out a remedy for thefe difficulties and my misfor-
f jnes. The Lady .//&M<? is at liberty j I Ihall foon

be

W h*^l woidJ rubmic to any thing for tte goA(l>
of ifty people— —were it not the. beft, the only
way to extinguifli the feuds between our fami-
lies^ if I wa» (o take the Lady Ifabelia to' wife^
-r^yott fiart«-*bttt though lEppoliia's virtues wi>l>
ever be 4ear to me^ a Psince muft not confider
bimfelf ;. he is bom for his people— ^A fervano
it that inftant onteiing the chamber apprized
idmfr^d that Jertmi and feveral of Us brethren
demanded inmediate accefs to him.;

The Prince,, provoked at this interruptiorif
aad fearing that the Friar wovld difcover to. the
ibangers that If^lh bad taken ianAuary, was
going to fbfbid Jerettts^s entrance. But rccollcS-r
ing that he was certainly arrived to notify tfav^
Princefsyretum^' Mmiftii began to excufe hinw
fcif to the Knights for leawng theov Cm a^ few
8K)Bients,' but was prevented by the arrival of
theFriarsi Munfrfd angrily reprimanded theia
for their intri^on, ai|d would have forced them
back from the chamber j but Jerome was tea
Biueh agitated to be repuifed* Ho declaired aloud

ther-

[ no J

the fiigHc of IfoteUa^ with prdteihtioiis df \W
own innocenee. Afmfrni difln«fted at the rteWsi '
and not !e& at its comklg td ffiebKy#ltd||ear
the flrangers, mter^^ nbdiing ftut kicoherent
fentences, rrow upbraiding the- Friar, nefw a^oto^''
giving to the Knights, edrrieft to know what was^*
become of IfibiBay yet eqtiailjr afraM^ of thcff
knowitig, impatient to purfuc* her, yetditading"
to have Aem join ip/ tlie purAiiu He ofltfctf
to difpatch tneflctigefs in qnefl of her^-^^^^^^bitt
the chief Knight na longer keeping ffiencc, re^
pro^hed Mmfred in bitter ternt^ for hh* darK
and ambiguous dtaling^ aund den^inded thfe txM
of IfMUs firft abfence from^ the caftle. Mtm
fhdy cafting » (bern lidok at Jerenk^ impljring H
command of filencey pretendud chat oil C$maf%
death he had placed her m- tanAuary- ufffil ht
could determine how to difpofe of her# yefom^
who trembled fcMr bis fon's 1%^ dUknot darr coft^
tradi£l this faifhood, but one of httf tecthuBt^
not under the fame anxiet^r, dedakvd frankly
that (he had fled to their church iif- the preceding
2 night.

lightw the -Pridce ia vain eadcavoure<f tO' iiop
Ai9 difooverj, which overwhelmed hi«i widi
ftamt and coafufion* The* principal Sramgerf
am^i^ed' at. the. contra£^ona he heardy and
en^q tl^ half, perikaded. that Manfud had fe-

cceiqi, the, Priacefs^ notwithftandtiig the con^
cerA^hc ejqpfefled> ^an her ffighty rulkingto the
flpoK) fiud, thou, traitor-Prince ! Jfiitelii iball bip
fornix . ifadred endeavouied to hold him,
i)ut the other Knights ai&fiing their eomradegr
ha hfic^ frpm the Pskice, ^ hafiened into
tbecourty, demanding- his attendants. Manfrcc(
fimKngjlj^vaiaT to, divert, hiai from the purfuir,
oiGBcedio. aocompanjir him ; and fummoning his
atteodants^. and taking Jerefta and fome of, the
FriafS\to guide them, they ifTued from the.eaftler^
Mmfr0d privateljr giving orders, to have the
Ki)igb^t*s company fecpred, while to (he Knight
he afFoAed to difpatch a mefienger ta require
their, affiftance*

. The company had no fooner quitted the caf-
fifi^A\mi.Matil4iiy who. felt herfelf deeply in-

lerefted

liar

terfc'ftcd for the young peafatit, lirice fhe' iisti
ften him cdndemhed to dfcath in the half, itii
tfhofe thoughts had been tafken upi with~ eoftterC^
ing meafures to five him, was infdrmcd by fome
pf the female stttfendahts that Mimfred had dif-
patched all hii men various 'wzys in pnrfuit of
Ifabel/a. He had in hh hdfry gi\fefl this order

^ • • • •

in general term*, fiot meanOfg to extend ft t(i
the guard he had fet upon Tfjeodorey tut fiirget-
ting it. The domeftics, officious to obcy'S
peremptory a Prince, and urged by tlieir owrt
curiofity and love of novelty- 16 join in a«y prt-
cipitate Chak:^, had to a mah* left t6c caftte.
Matihh difengaged htrfelf froni her Women;
ftole up to the black tower^ and unbolting the

m

door, prefented herfdf to the aftoniflied fbiodort*
Young mari, faid fhe, though filial di/ty, and
i^'omanly modefty condemft the ftcp I arii tal^-
Irig,- yet holy charity, fii^mounting at! otbef
ties, juftifies this aft. Flyj the ^oors of thy
prifon arc open : My fither and his domeftics

are abfentj but they may foon return : Be go^^

..... -. «

m

tiMtty i ahil may the angels of heaven dircft
thy Qokric ! Thou art furely one of thofe an-
geb I iaid the enraptured 'Tbcodori : None but a
Uciled faint could Ipeaki could aa—- could
look like thee I-*- may I not know the name of
my divine protedrefs 1 meihoogbl thou oamedft
thy fauber : Is it pofible 1 can Mtmfred*% bkxxl
feel holy pity 1— lotrtly Lady, thou anfwercft
not~^buc hour art thou here thyfelf ? why
doft thou negleA thy own fafety, and wafte a
thonght on a wictcb like Thtodtfre f let us fly
togedier: The life thou befloweft ihall be de^
dicated to thy defelior. Alas ! thou miftakeft >
£ud M^Ua fighing : I am Manfred' % daughter^
but no dangers await me. Amazement ! did
fbtodm: But laft night I blelTed myfelf for
yielding thee the fervice thy gracious compaiSon
b charitably returns me now. Still thou art in
an error; (aid the Princefs ; but this is no time
for explanation. Fly^ virtuoui youth, while it
is in my power to fave thee : Should my father
return, thou and I both ihould indeed have

I cauie

m

caufe to tremble. How ! fatd Theoim-i \ think->'
eft thou, charming makl^ that I wilt aceept
ot life at the hazard of aught calamitous to
tbeef better I endured a thoufand deaths^
•^I rtin no riflc^ faid Matilda^ but by thy de*
lay. Depart i it cannot be known that I af-
filed thy flight. Swear by the faints above^
faid Tkeedorfy that thou canft not be fufpeded ^
elfe here I vow to await whatever can befal me.
Oh ! thou art too generous ; faid Matilda \ but
reft afTured that no Aifpicion can alight on me.
Give me thy beauteous hand in token that thou
doft not deceive me, faid Theoddre ; add let me
bathe it with the warm tears of gratitude, — -*
forbear ^ faid the Prlncefs ; this muft not be.
Alas ! faid Theodorey 1 have ncVer known but ca-
lamity until this hour-— perhaps (hall never knoW

•

other fortune again : Suffer the chafte raptures
of holy gratitude : *Tis my foul would print
its efFufiohs on thy hand. Forbear, and be
gone : Said Matilda : — How would Ifaielki ap-
piovc of feeing thee at my feet? Whp is I/i^

hiUa?

t "5 I

liSn ? faid the young man with furprize. Ah
ine I I fear, faid the Priricefs, I am ferving a
deceitful one!— haft thou forgot thy curiofity
this morning ? Thy looks, thy aftions, all thy
beauteous felf feems'an emanation of divinity,
faid Theodore^ but thy words are dark and myfte-
rious, -^— "^ fpeak, Lady } fpeak to thy fervant^s
comprchcnfion. — Thou underftandeft but to
well ! faid Matilda : But once more I command
thee to be gone : Thy blood, whith I may
ptcfcrve, will be on my head, if I wafte the
time in vain difcourfe. I go» Lady, faid Theo--
dote^ becaufe it is thy will, and becaufe I would
pot bring the grey hairs of my father with for^
i^ow to the grave. Say but, adored Lady, that
I have thy gentle pity <— Stay ; faid Matilda j I
will condudi thee to the fubterraneous vault
by which Ifabilla efcaped ; it will lead thee to
the church of St. Nicholas^ where thou may ft
take fanfluary. — f^What ! faid Theodore^ was
it another, and not thy lovely felf that I af-
filed to find the fubterraneous paflage? It was.;

I 2 faid

twH Matilda \ but a& no more: I tremUa t0'
fee thee ftill abide hei^: Fly to the Otndiiary^-TT-
to fandluaiy faid Th^durf: No, Prinveisj^ fane-
tuaries are fof help|«rf$ daipfels,^ or for cruni*
Hals* 7i^^^«r/8 (pyl is free from guiitr' Qqr
wiU wear the appearand of it; Give mc a-
iWord, I^df, and tby father Chaff teua ths^
Tbeo^$ feor^ an igtiomipiQus flight. Rafti
ybuth! faid Af#^» thpu lyouldft not daf« tp
lift thy prefinnptuovs anp agaioft tbr fi^nipe eff
Giranu? Nqi ^6«ii?.ft thy f^thcf } iiidce4 I da*
BOt: f4i4 TbiQdor$: Sxcufe ^fie, ^ad]p^ I bad
forgottea,-*^ — but couW I gaw on thee, an^-
itfmembe? thou art fprMng frcim the tyrant
Manfred f^-'-^t^ he is thy father, afi4 (cdp
this moimnt mj injuries are bvcried in oUlvk)n.
A deep and- holltw groan, which f^npe^ |d
eome from aboye» fiartied the PriilQfA s^
Tbiodot^r. Good b^aveti ! we 9H oy8k>hfaff#1
faid the Princefs. They l^iied ; but peretlv^
ing rio farther noife,' thc^ both cptidwidl it
the ttkOt of pe|it«iip viapourt: And- the Priie

ce&

t "? 1

tA preceding Theodore foftly, carried hixh io
bir father'^ armorj, wbere Equipping him wish
a cimipiete fiitt, be was ccndu^led by MaiUg
Id the pdftern-fgaie. Avoid the town, faid
Ae Prifiods, arkl ill the wefttrit fide of the
ui\t : 'Tit ;thcre /the fearch milft be niak«
Jog bjr Manfrfed and the ftra>tiger» : But hie thee
kb the 'Oppofite quaver. Yonder behind that
foreft to the eaft is a chaiii of rocks, hollowed
Mo a labyfrnth of cavern^ that reach to the fea-
tfnAi There ^bou mayft he concealed, till thoa
caitft liiike%ii[« to tottit teflel to put on (bore
md take thee o£ Ge! heaven be thy guide f
<^aiid fometimei in thy prayers remember—*
Hatitdaf Theodore flung himfelf at her feet, ant)
iefzing her liUy band, which with ftruggles fhe
Miftd him to kifs, he vovcted on the earlieft
epporr«niiy to get himfelf knighted, and fer^-
veatly intreated her permiflion to iwear himfelf

eternally her knight E'er the Princefs could

reply, a dap of thunder was fuddeniy heard,
Aatlhook the battlements. Theodore, regardlefs

I3 ai

[ "8 ]

of the tcfli^eft, would have urged his foitj
but the Princefs, difmaycd, retreated haftily in^
to the caftle, and. commanded the youth to be
gone with, an air that Would not be difobeyed,
He fighcd, and retired, but with eyes fixed on
the gate, until Mfltilda clofing it, put an end to
an interview, in which the hearts of both had
drunk fo deeply of a paflTion, wbi<cb both now
fafted for the firft timp.

Theodora went penfively to the convent, to
acquaint his father with his deliverance. There
he learned the abfencc of Jerofnfj and the pur-
fuit that was making after the Lady Ifdelh^ with
fon^e particulars of whofe ftory he now firft be-
came acquaintjed. The generous galantry of
his nature prompted *hipi to wifli tp affift her;
but the Monks could lend him no lights to
guefs at the route flic had taken. He was not
tempted to wander faf in fearch of her, for the
idea of Matilda had imprinted itfelf fo ftrongly
on his heart, that he could not bear to abfcnt
Jiipifclf ^t miicb diftance froin her abode. Tbg

jef)der»

[M9 ] =

teniernefs jferomi bad exprefled for him.con';
curre4 to confirm this xelu£Unce ; and he even
perfuaded himfelf that filial alFeclion was the
chief caufe of his hovering between the caftle
and monaftery.. Until "Jerome fbould return
at night} Theodore at length determined to re-
(>air to the foteft that Matilda had pointed out
to him. Arriving there, he fpiight the gloomi-
eft ihades, as heft fuited to the pleafing me-
lancholy that reigned in his mind. In this mood
he i-oved infenfibly to the caves which had for-
merly ferved as a retreat to hermits, and werp
now reported round the country to be haunted
by evil fpirits. }it recolieded to have heard this
tradition; and being of a brave a;id adventur
rous difpofition, he willingly, indulged his cu-
riofity in exploring the {beret receiles of this la-
byrinth. He had not penetrated far before
he thought he heard the fteps of fome perfon
Hrho Teemed to retreat before him. Theodore^
though firmly grounded in all our holy faith,
enjoins to be bi^lieved, had no apprehenfion

I 4 that

[ l«9 1

that g<yod men were abandoned witjiout (cau^ tp
the malice of the powers of darkners. He
thought the pface more likely to be infefied by
robbers than by ti^ofc infernal agents who are
reported ^o moleft and bewi}de|r travellers. Hf^
had long burned with inopatience to approve bi^

valourr rdrawing his fabre, Jic marched fe-

date}y onwards^ ^ill dire^ing his fteps, as tbt
imperfc£l ruftling fo^ before hiqfi led the way.
The armour he wore was a like indjc^tioii to
the perfon who avpidcd him. Theodan now
convinced that he ^as pot fm^aken, redoublcfl
his pace* and evidently gained on the perfen
that fled, ^hofe hafte increafing, Tbfodtn ca^e
up juft as a wo^an fell breathli^fs befoie hiin.
He haded to raife |ier, but her terror was ff>
great, th^t he appiehended flie- would faint in
his arms. He.ufed every gefitle wor4 todifpe)
her alarms, and aifarcd her that far from injur*
jng, he would defend her at the peril of his
life. The Lady recovering her fpirits from h»?
ceurteou? deprfcancur, and gazing* op her pro-

[ m I

m »

tt£fer; faidy fytt t have heard that voice be-
fere! 0ot to mjr knowledge, leplied Thmbrt^
milds as I coi^^ure thou ^n the Lady (/abdla^
«-^siiereifiil (leavea- crtcrf (he, thou art non
fent 10 queft of me, art thoju ? at^ tayii^g thob
jiTords, |he tbnew herfelf at his feet, and be^
jbught him fnoi to fleliver bar up py Mtmfrii^
To Mtmfr^l cried Tbfukn-^tio^ Lady, I bav4
(HKe already delivered thee fiiom )iis tyranny,
and it fliall far/e hard with m.e i?ow, b^t I wiU
place tb^e opt of the reach of hil daring. }$
it pofible, faid ibe, that tbou (hoiildft be tb^
jgentrotis ^nk^^^n whom I vofiX laft night ii|
t|ie vault of the ca^le \ fqfe thou art not a mor«
tal, but my guardian angel : O^ my koees le{
fat thank-^oM, gentle princcfs, faid Thettkrg^
nor demean thyfelf beforp a poor. and friend*
lefs young man. If heaven has foleAed me
for thy deliverer, it will accomplifl^ its.worjf:,
and ftrcngthen my arm in thy caufe—— buf
icome. Lady, we are too near the mouth of
the cavern ; let us fcek its inmoft r^efles : I

[ 122 ]

• ...

ean have no tranquillity till I have placed thee
beyond the reach of danger. - Alas ! what mean
you. Sir? faid fhe. Though all your afiiona
are noble, though your fentiments fpeak the
purity of your foul, is it fitting that I ihould
accompany you alone into thefe perplexed re-
treats i fliould we be found together, what
would a cenforious world think of my con-
duct; ? I refpedl your virtuous delicacy, faid
Tbeodgr^l nor do yoi| harbour a fufpicion that
wounds my honour. I meant to condu£l you
into the moft private cavity of thefe rocks,
and then at the hazard of my life to guard
their entrance againft every living thing. Be*
fides, Lady, continued he drawing a deep (igh,
beauteous and all perfed as your form is, and
though my wiflies are not guiltlefs of afpiring,
know, my foul is dedicated to another; and al-r
though*— a fudden noife prevented Thiod^re
from proceeding. They foon diftinguifhed thefe

founds, IfabeBa ! what ho I Ifabella! the

trembling Princefs rchpfed into her former

agony

{"3 3

;igony of fear. Theodore endeavoured to encou«
rage her^ but in vain» He aflured her he would
die rather than fuiFcr her to return under Man*
frei'z power i and begging her to remain con-
cealed, be went forth to prevent the perfon xn
fearch of her from approaching.

At the mouth of the cavern be found an
arjped Knight, difcourfing with a peafant,
who aflured bim be had feen a lady enter the
pafles of the ropk* The Knight was prepare-
ing to feck her, when Tbeodorey placing bim-»
feif in hj9 way, with his fword drawn, fternly
forbad hjm at his peril to advance* And who
art thou who dareft to croft my way i faid the
Knight haughtily. One who does not dare
Aiore than he will perform, faid Theedcre^ I
feek tbe Lady JfabeUai iaid the Knight, and
underftand (be has taken refuge among thefe
rocks* Impede me not, or thou wilt repent
having provoked my refentment. Thy pur*
pofe is as odious, as thy refentment is con-
^mptiblr» faid T^M^ri* l^etlirn whence thou

camefty

t «4 I

<Mneft, Or we (hall Toon know tdiofe itibie*
ment i3 moft terrible. The Ar^tig^ri wh6 uraft
the priDcipftl Knight th«t fiitA arttved from tbt
marquis tXVtun^j fa^d galloped <r4Mtt Mdnfui
pA he wai bufied in gettrng infoonation of the
Princefs, s^id giving; various orders tcf ^xzitt^
htx falling into the power of the thtte itnrghts«
Their chief had fufpe^fled M^td^i Being pri-
vy to the Princeft^s abfconding ; ^nd this infuk
from a jnati^ wiso he conceded Was ftadoAed
by that Priitce to fecrete faer^ eonfirttiing hia

ItifiHcioiis, he ^ade tto reply, but difi^hargln^
Ik blow witb )^s fabre at thuiariy woold fii»il
kave removed 0} cMrufiion, if Hheodore^ wfab
took bim for one of Manfiy^t captains, and
who had no fooner given die provocation tbaft
prepared to iapport it, lud not received ithe
Aroke on hift (hidd* The yalour that hgd to long
2>een fmotkered in his bneaft, jbcoke foitk a|
fMcti he milled imprtuoufiy on the jEtfii^l^
ivhofe pride and wrath were not Icfs powers
ffjX j^^tives to hardy deeds, TM combat, was

^iotfs^

I; m T

/unoiify l>ut not long : Thtodon wounded tli^^'
Knigbt in tbree fevdral phcci, and at laft dif*-
arinf4 bm as be faiitted by the lofi of blood*
The ped&ntf who bad fled oil (lat firft onfet^
]iad given tbe alarm tc^ fome of M^^rei's iomti*
lMf9| wlk> by bis orderi were difperfcd tbrougb'
tK^ foreft ia pilrfuit of J/aSMg. Tbey caastr ujy
as the Knigbt felly wbom tbey foon difcovered
19' be tbe lioMe flraoger. 7X#^<^rr» notwhh-
^^ndiBg hh hatred to Mi^ifrei^ coMld not be-
lloU (b« vi^oiy he bad gained witbbiit emo*
tgm rf pi^ ««d jenen^fity; But he wasr
IRort tonelicd, when be learned the Quality of
bif ajvarfarys and was informed that be waa'
^ letaitieri but an enemy of ManfrU. He
aSfted the fervatHts of: the Utter ia difarming
4ie Kni^t, atid io citdeavQuriJig to ftadnch the
Jlgod tb«t flowed •from bis wounds. The
ICnight re^ov^ing his fpeoQh» faid in a faint
and falteri% vaice> generous foe^ we have both
baen in an error: I (00k thee for an inftht-

aient of db tyrant v I peiceive tbou baft made

the

inc lite mlftake-^it is too Iat6 for tKcuki — I
faint — \i Ifabella is at hand — call her -J— I have

important fecrets to He is dying ! faid one

of the attendants; has nobody a tfucifix alodt
them ? AndreOy do thou pray over him — ^fctch
fome water, faid Thiodore^ and pour it down hi^
throat, while I haften to the Princcfs fay-
ing this, he flew to Ifahelkj and in few vi^ordis
told her modeftly, that he had been fo unforttf*
nate by miftake as to wound a gentleman from
her father's ^ourt, vfrho wifhed e'er he died td
impart forfiething of confcqaeitcc to her. The
Princefs, who had been tranfported at hearing
the voice of Theodore as he called to her to come
forth, was afloniflied at what (he heard. Suffer-
ing herfelf to be conduced by Theodore^ the
new proof of whofe valour recalled her difperjji'
ed fpirits, (he came where the bleeJing Knight
lay fpeechlefs on the ground— but her fears re-
turned, when (he beheld the domeftics of Afc*-
fred. She would again have fled, if Theodore
bad not made her obferve that. they were un-

armed»

[ ^27 ]

armed, and had not threatened them with tnfiant
death, if they (houd dare to feize the Princefs*
The ftranger, opening bis eyes, and beholding
a woman, faid— art thou^pray tell mc truly-*
art thou JfabeUa of Vianza f I am j faid ihe :

good heaven rcftorc thee ! Then thou

then thou— -—faid the Knight, firuggling for
utterance— feeft— thy father — give mc one —
oh ! amazement I horror ! what do I hear !
what do 1 fee ! cried IfabeUa. My father ! you
my father I how came you here , Sir, for hea-
ven's fake fpealc !— oh ! run for help, or he
will expire ! 'Tis moft true, faid the wound-
ed Knight, exerting all his force; I dxa Fnde-

xii thy father — yes, I came to deliver thee

It will not be — give mc a parting kifs, and

take. Sir, faid Theodore^ do not exhauft your-

felf: fufFer us to convey you to the caftle

to the caftle! faid I/abella i is there no help
nearer than the caftle i would you expofe my
father to the tyrant ? if he goes thither, I

dare not accompany him and yet, can I

leave

[ »8 J

teave him ! my child, faid Fridtriik^ it H^ittM
not for me whither I am carried : A few mY^^
iiutes will place me beyond dinger -^ bot v^t
1 have ^yes to doat oh thee") fbrfake me not/
dear IfiAella ! This brave Kntgbt-^I know not
Who he is, will proted thy innoccnce-i-i^Sllr,
you wril not arbandoA my child, witt yon f Theo--
dare flieddtirg tears over bis victim, and vowing
to guard the Princtfs at the estptnce of hb li^,
perfuaded Frederic to fufFer hiihfelf to be con^
duSEed to the caftle. Tliey placed htnr on a faorfe
bdonging to one of the domeflics, after binding

up his wotinds as well as they were able.' TW*

, • • • ■

dare marched by fars fide ; and the aflified H^aielkty
whb cbuld not beaf to tf6t him^ followed ihoitro-
fully behind.

Vf.

•« •■ w

CHAP.

[ W9r ]

^^a^>*<^— Jb— bJ— p*ii— ^— — >AwA^^<»i»«^*»'*i i j * I I I i I I I I ft

C H A p. IV. ,

% • •

* I

THE forxowful troop no fopn«r arrived at
, • . . • . .

the qiftle, tkan they were met by HifpO'^
ita miJklaildat iKhpvxJfaMla had fent one of
the donieftics before to advertife of their ap«
(NT^aicbt : The Ladiea czufitig Frederic to be con*
veye^ into the neareft chamber^ ri^tired,.. while
the furgeons examined his wounds, Matilda
bluflied at feeing Tkepdore a^nd I/abelk together ;
but endeavoured to conceal it by einbracing the
latter^ and condoling ^ith her on her father's
mifcbance. The (urgeons foon came to ac-
quaint HifpoUsa that none of the Marquis'i
wounds were dangerpus;^ and that be was de^
£cous of feeing his daughter ^nd the Princefies.
Theodsre^ under pretence 9f expreffing j^is joy at
being freed from his api^reh^pfions of tjhe com*
bat b^ing fatal to Frederic^ could not refift the

K impuKii

t *3^1

lAipuIfc of following Matilda. Her eyes Wcrt
4boftto€aft do»«-aa4PCctuiglu<» th a t jM^ >, .
who regarded Ti^ofir^ as attentively as he gaacd
on MatiUa^ fcen divttetf . wihiP Ac objed was
that he had toM her in the cave cngs^cd bis
afFcaibns. Whiie this taait fcene paffed, flf-
folka demanded of Friderk the caufe of Ks hav-
tegtakett fliat mytcrSctos conrfe fAriftclaiiaing
bis daughter 5 and thrt* in various apologie* to
e^cufc fifer Lord for Ae match coflkraAM' *e»
tw6en their children, f^edericy however to-
cetited'againftr MahJ^eJ;'vm not irifcoCbJe^to
the courtefy and beAevoIence rf ISppoliia t But
he' waS-ftlH more Ibuck wWi the loirel^form c*
Matilda. tVifcing to* detain them by his Ked-
fide, lie Iflformcd fSppdka of his *ory. Ifc
*toldherJ that, whSeprifoner to the infidels, he ^
had d/eiihea that hfc danger, of whoni he
had learhed no n^ws iincie his captwity, was
-detaint^ m a ca^fe, where fte was* ih danger of
*the"moft* 'dreadful misfortunes:' And thai If
'•ht tIbralnVd hts litierty, and repaired to a vwpd
• -r' **- Aeaf

Am 4l<fii% Md incapaUc of obayuig (be di^
tfAiw givta by it, his chains became, nore
gWMus ibaa ever. Sut while bia tboug)u9
wcwe; qewfkd co (be mK4<» pf obuimog hia
lib«ity» hi Hcdveri tiie agrfcafaU ftma that the
dUife^eiate : ?iAnu$^ nrfaor wwi wairiig In Pd*i
hfib^ it9i piW bin ffwliMH ;ik inib»i% i«4
Me fdt ibiMvood iba( bfd* betn; atar^kad ii^ bia
4rca«i. . Fo© thrqe AryJ V. «>4 hi^ atfcadaius
M ^andefed ift tjlft'fiai^ft wiibdut feaing a
bttiMa fiacmi .^ But on tk«/ ey^itog of ilbe tkiU
Ibey OHBe to^ai cttly iH wbiob d)ey tauvid a ve-*
wiaUe* hermit m tho agcnito 06 ciraiiK Aftplji*
iflg a^ «aiSial8, ; fhaj^ br^ttf^ht the (ym^Hke
naa lor-bia ^^eaebv My^-fon^, (mit bOf. i am
bMiKtaii^' tQ> jmr chieby -^ b«t it is iiivain-->-I
Bmfpmgto.ttkyf 0ler^ mSb^et 1 di& witk tbr
buafy&aoa oi yeri^rmiig the rWitt c^S b«»ven»
Wlwtirl^l-'t^Md ^ liMa^(;»litiide, raaarice*-
pT£ ofjr cottttfiry becortm^ a stef to bnbdieteta^
It is^ alae I above fi% ynora. fitioe; b wis "wicneCi

K 2 to

I HZ I

tbt\M AreadM kmc ! St. MfiMt appeired
mci Mi revMil€d ft led«f» ivM<ft lie bsA me
j^eM^ iHrclofa to tmml liHin^ bul on Hiy ^AtttAk-f
bed. This is that tremehdoite hbUr^ ^aai ye ^e
no doubt the choren warrioutftto inbottyl wa»
brderecl to teteal my truft. As foM aafyoJiave
done the laft offices to this wretched 4xalk^ ^
under the feventh tite on did Ieft4iand: of ^

poor cave, and your paiiis wil l- O h ! goo4

heaven receive my foul ! With thofe words -die
devout man breathed hit luSt^ By break of da^s
continued Fredirk^ when we had eonunilied
the holy relicks to eardi^ we dug aceording to
db^on-^«-<-but what was our aftonUhmoiC^
when about the depth of fix -feet we^difcoviBred
^n enoraious.iabre^-^the veiy weapon' yondet
in the court* On the^ blade, which wae ihui
partly out of the fcabbard^ though fince clofed
by our efibrts in removing it^ Vrere written^the
foHowing Itnes^-*"'*^ no $ excule me, Mad«m>
added the Marquis, turning to tSfpdiUi^xrjt, I
forbear to repeat them; f, reiped your-fex and

rank^

( m i

rmk* and would not bo.guU^ otoSfoiiagfont

ear wilib firaod^ai^iirioiia to oti^ t)i»t is dear tor

yoii^c pmfel. H^rm trembled. She did

not doiibf but Andfrk wat deftined by heavor

to accomplifli the fate that feemed to direaten

Jitr hoiife. Lookiog #itb ansioiia fondnefs at

MniUa^ a fitent tear fide down ber ebeek :

J&vik lecoOe£Bng herfalf^ file faid $ proceed, my

Lord : Heaven does notbing in vain : Mortals

maft recetye its divine behefls with lowlaneft

and fiibmiiSon* it is our part to deprecate its

wriicb) or bow to its decrees. Repeat the fen-

4ence, my Lord; we Men refigned. Frfdnif

wtt'grievcd that he had proceeded fo far. The

HigifStf and patient firmnefs of IBppoSta pene-

tnned biili with refpe^l, and the tender filent

'^sSkOimi with which the Princefs and her daugh««

•tsrr^ardad each other, melted him almoft to

^texn. Y]pt apprehensive that his forbearance to

obey, wo^rd be more alarming, he repeated ia

9^alMing and low voice the fpUpwing lines :

i'

K 3. fFkr^

r *34 1

men /er a taj^e that fiats ihis fimft h fmni^
f^Ttb ferlb is ibj denn^er cmf^fi rtiM^

Ani fuiii M hng riftbfs Prha^s /Me$ •

Wiitt J8 Awt in dieie lititfs, laid theiJbN hafs^-
tiendy, that alGifts tli«rePi{nC»ifci ? wbjr wcw
Aej to be fhocked by a nyflerioiis 4kiicKy»
ihttt has fo little fenttdfttiaii f Ymot irorda aae
nide, youtig man* iaid tbr Marquis^ and dM'
.fonune baa hvovnt^ yw 0nflt-in!«<-«tiiy hoiiotiiBd
XxM^d, Aid ^£^> ^o refentcd T^Mbr/s
warmth, . which (h^ pt^rceived wai didUitad by
his fentiiBents for AhtiUb^ difcompofe oot yoMf^
fdf for the glofing of s» peafam^a foo; Hete*
geta tb« revei^nce b^ owes you ^ but he ts not
jiccuftopifd — ^^Hifp^ui^ G^gsrAi^d at the. heat
that bad arifedy cbacked Tb^Hbrt for fata boU-
nefs, biit with an air acknowledging. his. zeal $
and ^haDging the converiafioo» decnanded of
Freimc where he had left btr Lordi«Aa the
Marquis^ was going to reply, they heard a noife

' without

f ns 3

miBtMi m4 nfing to invwt Am tmtkpMn^
fnJk J^fwiH And pait of ibc troop» trtu) M
intl txkmnfMSi nuaour of wlnt hadh^ppcnedy
«iii«re4 Ae duMbec- ii^^i^ advanficd haftUy
cowaidl Fmbru^t M to oMdok with bim oa
iRt MffiMtuwi ani 10 )wv^ Jko ctrcumfiances
of liio ooQiboit whMi AirtiDg lA « agony oC
lovor and amtzement^ kt caed» Ha ! wbal zit
tkoii2 tboudmdfaLfpitilfei is ny hoar come ?
<-i4nf Aut^ giaeioui Lml» mod NifpJiia^
tAdgmg hm ia her arm^ what is it you fee?
«rlij do yoa jfix. your eye4)oils thus !--What !
cddd JUof^ breatblefs-^oft thou iee nothiD^,
ififpfiutf is dm ghaftly phantom fent to m?
aloni*^to me, who did not— ^ for mercy's
iwecieft felf^ TDif Lo^t faid JHUppoliUiy refum^
ftvLt ibuly oonmand you» reafon. There is
none here> bat a^ your fricads -^ what is not
A^ Alfi^r aried Jfdofff^: Doft thou not fee
Vtmi can k be my braia's delirium ?— This I
my Lord, faid MppoBta-^ this is Ihtdon^ the
youth, who has been fo ui^fortunate — ' Thgodsr^ I

K 4 iaid

i n^ I

Md Mu^hi fnouaniUtjr, and ftrilMg Ut teop
kead<-*-71(Mdhttv or tf {iliaAtokttv te^ha* unbiogKl
tst fettlof Mtmffid l^ b ut hair comes lic<liefcJ
Md how comes fae in armeiir f I beUeve^be want
ita fear cb of j^SMkr; Said iii^f^tte^ Of #?
I^&/ ftid :4ii»^rtf» rdapfing into fag^^jM^
^, tfiat i9 Mt 4ottbcfuk**^^but boir^ did te
cfta^ from diuanoe inl which I left him? sras
it Ifibilh^ or this hypocrititsal old Friar,; 4m
procured bU 0nIaiigqncnt7-*Hind would. a paiMl
becrimttial, iny^Lotif isud nuAre^ ifhaixdff
ditated the ddiveraace ofhia child.? yn^nm
amazed to hear himfelf in a manner accttfiad hy
his fon, and without foundation^ knew. pot
What to think. He could not cofn^rf^haidt
how Thf9(brf had efqipedy how he came te>liB
ftrpied, and tp encounter Fredme^, StilP 4e
would not venture to aft )my qiieftionB that
fn*ght tend to inflame Mffffrf4*fl.^ndih agaitift
his fon« Jeronu^s filence convinced MwtfrU
th^t he bad contrived Haodor^ leleafe-^aad is
it' thus, thou ungrateful old man,^ (aid the Fritnee
; -^ addrcffing

f ^37 J

^ddfardbl^ hlmSif tc» the Friar, that ihot re-
pafA, oiiiic aiid ISffpSt^s bounties i And mot
toittntwitli-tiivcrfing mj heart's aearcft wiibe%
diCNi artneft thy baftard, nd briogeft him intj»
my dwn caftle to inAilt me I My Lord, faid
you* wrong my fathers Nor be nor I
capabM of harbouring a thought againft
your peace. Is it infolence thus to furrender
snyfelf to your Highnefs's pleafure ? added he,
laying his Arord refpe^fidly at Matifrii^ ftet.
BokoM my bofem \ ftrilce, my Lord, if you
iiifpeA that a difloyal thought is lodged, there.
\There it n0t a lentiment engraven on my heart,
4diat does not venerate you and yours. The
•^ittce and fervour with which ^Thioiort uttered
jBefe* irords, interefted every peribn prefent
Hi his favpur. Even Mmftid was touched— *-*-
jret Iijll'p<yfli^e4 with his refemblance to M-

ftf^^ his admiration was daflied with fecret hor-
iVDi Rife Y faid be ; thy life is not my prefent
.|mrpofe.>— -**»But tell mp thy hiftory, and how
;liiou camdl connected with this oI(} traitor here.

My

**•• '«

t ?3« I

MyLonf, (Slid Jerimi tz^y-'^^^'^^psUltl ^

prompted. My Leitl^ fa)d Tbeiii9^£^ t iii^ii9( nd
^iftftfice : Mj ftaty is very bri^f. t wu 4^^
tied It five years of age t6 if^/Vf* with Off i«0»
tbe]"^ whd had been ^akeft by corr^ra lloA A«
eo^^fSiii/y, She died of gilef mfefr thaait
twelvemomh'-*—- the tears gu(hed from Jinm^^
tjesj on whofe eouhtenance a tliMftnd aflxiiKtt
paffions ftood exprefled. Bifote fte 4i0d, ecw*
timicd Theodore^ ihe boufid a mrritrng abdw flty
arm under my garmentiy whieti ecM mt I triii
the Ton of che Comii Fmlmn^a^ k tanioft crui,
faid Jerme ; J am that wrrtdMd fitb^^agaia
I Cftjoin thee filence ; . faid Morbid t fraceel
I remained in flaveryi Aid Th^Are, onitt widiiA
thcfe two years, when attending on .my n^^
in his CTfiiees^ I was ddiimed by Cbriffi^
vc£fely which overpowered the pira^f arid di&
covering myiidf to the captatinp he geoeroofly
put me oi} fitort rn Si£n^->-^^bttt afars ! inA^'^
of finding a fatto-, I learned that hia ti^siSt

I m 1

^ich wii8 Ctuated oo the eoaft, bad, daring
lir abfeocey been laid wafte by tbe Rover, who
Imd^arrieil my mother and me Into captivity <f
That his caftle had been burnt to the ground,
and dut my father on bis return had fold what
remafned, and was retired into religion In the
Vngdom of Napbsj but where no man could
ioferm me. Deftitute and fnendleft, hopelefs
almoft of attainmg the tranfport of a parent's
enibraee, I took the firft opportunity of fetting
bil for Napksj from whence, within thefe fix
d^ys, I wandered into this provir^ce, ftili ftip*
porting myiclf by the labour of my hands ; not
imtil yefter-morh did I believe diat heaven had
referved any lot for me but peace of mind and
contented poverty. This, my Lord, is 71^^^-
dbr/s fiory. I am Uefied beyond my hope in
itndliig a father i I am unfortmiate beyond my
defert in having incurred your Highnefs's dif-
pkafure. He ceaflcd. A murmar of appro-
bation^ gently arofe from the auAence. This is
OOtaU^ f^^ Frederic I am bound in honour

to

I HO }:

to add what bcr fuppnsfles. Tliough he is ma^^
deft, I muft bo . gcncrouSf— -^h^i : i$ ojw of- the
braveft youths on Chiifti^o grpimd. He' i^

vfdmi too {.and from the ibort knowlj^goi
have of him, I will pWgc myfelf for his Yor#-
Utf : If what hf sports of bimfelf wcce pot
truet he would not utter it-^^nd for mc» yoiaJi»
I honour a fnuikoefs which becomes thy bicth^
But now» and thou didft offend me: yet.4be
noble Mood which flows in thy veins^ may WeH
be allowed to boil out, when it has fo lyspemly
traced itfelf to its iburce. Come, my 14x4
[turning to Ma/^cd] if I can pardon him»
fur?ly you may: It is not the youth's fa^fik, if
you took him for a fpedrp. This bitter taunt
galled the foul of ^nfrnJ. If beings fromai^
oth^r world) replied he hau^tily, have power
to imprefs my mind with awe» H M n^M-e t^aii
Hying man can do ; nor could a ftripling'saroi
• — my I<ord, interrupted fEf^Uta^ your g|i^
has occafion; for repofe : Shall we not leave l»x(i
to his reft ? Saying. thiS| and idj^ug.^a^nijby

V

the

Aoilij^nd) flM took' leave of Frnbricf and.
die ootnfMiny forth.- -The Prince^ nofforry-w
ipit aaconverlatii^n) which recdled to miitd tlrs
<l(cQ«efy he liad'ififtde of bis tnoft (ccnst fmtGi*'
titltti fuffered VimMf to be conduced to hh
oim apirtment, after ptrmittiiig tbutUrij tlfo^
^ttiier engagemetit to return to th6 caftfe on the
flKtorow [a condition tht young man gladly ac^
cepted} to retice with bis father to the convenfJ
MnUda md IfabiUa were too nhicb occnpied
mil tbeir own refltAionS) and too Kttle con^
Ml %ith each other> to wifb for farther con*
vofii that night* They feparated each to hef
chMfccr, with more expreffions of ceremohy
and. fewer of aSeCHon^ than had palTcd betWeeit
ttMmfince t&eir childhood. ' ^ . . ' :^ri*»^

If they parted -with fmall cordfelJty, tKcJ^dia
bat mcftt with greater impatience, as'Toon as thrf

r

iiiR-Waa rifen^ Their minds were in a (ituation
that excluded Aeepj and each recoIle£led a thou-
fand queftions t^Ich ' Ihe wifhed {he had put to
the other 6verntsht. Maiil^h reflected that Jfa-

Mk

1 14a 1

Ifi/fa hi94 ^CA twice delivered b^ t%$0ikri kt mff
mticaji fttiutioost whkh fhe cotild iiot bcKeve
ttxideftUl. . His ty^y, it was tfUir> M borii ibn^
td on bei. ui tudarie^ cbaoiter v b«t that mufjfiX
kive been to difgulfo hU paffion foir ^& ,fre«i
Cbfl faMwf pfboth. It wfre Wftttr te.ckt^
tlii^ ug-^r-^She viibed to Iukw the tFudi« liA
ihc fliould wtDi^ hcc fitietut by entertakiitig..s^
paffilMifor ^(id9*s lovf t, Tbu&jealoMry prodij^n
fd» aod.at. the /amo time bocntwed ati.til^;!)^
£cwi frifodfliif Uft juftify its ci^iofitjt^ ■ • / / .
^^Ukt pot left r#ftl6f8,.had Vetlct'^ii^^t
tbn for {hec. fuQpicioiis* Boffa THmdoifi^^ tongue
and eyes hud told bet hi^ heaj;t .»as e^gyiyft * t
it was. tnie-^yee perhaps MaAUn might not ccff ^
refpond to his paffioA^^ihe had .e«ei^ a^pei^^
inlen£iUe to bve : , All l|er . tboyu^ts wc^e fet
oa heayett*^why didLdiflu^dehep} lakl ^IMk
to herfelf : I aoi puniihed /or my ^gene(oiil|t|r^
but when did they meat i whcie ?-r-it cfonot
be : I have deceived myfelfr^-^perh^ps Jaft night
was the firft time they ever .beheld each- otl^e;^

f>.

UKf% 14 I dK>%bt J if U IB swx my bkni

iUHU^^kow ! cap I fi^ifp ta withbfi tbr af-«
li}]r a^^|^uiic4 me with hk indifer^^f^ f an^

tto.sit: lie jicQr I9^ii!^nx m wbkbr ccwtoHMi

cowxafj demaodc^ ^( le«ft e^i;|BQAS gf . civi-
JiQfv . ilwiU. g9 10.1117 d^ar ]ifUtilda% who will,
cpnfirii mf in this bccov^ing pridc^*-<r.<^an i%

MA-wJl yviti ^dvii^.wUh ^^ on takiog U)C veil:^
Sl^ witt 'X^)(df e to find 4o^ in tbjs 4ifpojStion |
af^ I friif »C(^«int i^ ibs^t I no longer . pfQ)pfi|
&er,.fqfUt>atiaa for^ c%ik(f ;Jli tbisfipamq
cf miod, aud deteuainc d to open Ker beait enn
tii^Jy..!^ Matm^ flw; Mreax ta tbut Prioccfc^
chamber, whojn, (he fgupd ^Ire^y dre)9^d« aod
kSPiogjF^v^lypnhcrsvoi. . This^Uitpdcufg
lcoix«ij[K)i)denfi to wbat iba f<elt ber^elif, revived
^^ih's iUfpieiQn^^ wd deAroycd l^e CQ^&Jeacc
ft<^ bs)d pvKpqf^d t£>. plac^ ip ber friend. Tbqr
l^Uifiued ifti inf9tiiig> ««d.w^e.£90^mucb oo*^

.; ^c g vices

1 144^ 1

vides to difguife their fett&lionfs witft'addfdtr?
After fome unmeaning queftiond Utd^ le^its^
Matilda demanded of Ifibetk tbe xaiile of !lief'
flight ? the I^er, who had aktoft kkgmtn
MmfreiTB paffion, fo entiitHy was flie ocdiipted
by her own, concluding xhzt Matilda referred. td
her laft efcape from the convtot, which had oc«^
caiicmed the events of tlie preceding evening,
repliedi, ^^^fZf/ brought word totfae eonrent

that your mother was dead-^^Kih! hxAMs^

■

interrupting beTi Bianea has ex[riained that Huf*
take to me : on feeing nte faint, flie cried otre^
the Princefs is dead! and MartelRWtio had come
for the ufual dole to the caftle-^ and what made
you faint ? faid IfsAelbi indifferent to the itft«
Matilda bliifhed, and ffaniinered -^ nty father-^
he was fitting in judgment on a criminal-'—^
what Criminal f faid IfabeBa eagerly--^ youtt|;
man : faid Matilda—I believe—I think it was th^
young man that — what, Theodore f faid Ifabdta,
Yes,; anfweredflie; I never faw him before;

I do not know ho^ fa^e bad offended my f^'

^ ftcr

[ H5']

thcr— but as he has been of fervicc to jou, I
am glad ^my Lord baa pardoned him — ferved
me ? replied Ijahella ; do you term it ferving me,
to wound my father, and almoft oceafion bis
death I Though it is but fince yeflerday that t
am bleiTed with knowing a parent, I hope Aia-
tilda does not think I am fuch ^ ftranger to
filial tendemefs as not to refent the boldnefs of
that audacious youth, and that it is impofTibie
for me ever to feel any afilflion for one who
dared to lift his arm againfl the author of
.my being. No, Matilda^ my heart abhors him ;
and if you.ftill retain the friendfiiip for me that
you have vowed from your infancy, you will
deteft a man who has been on the point of
maklno: mc mifcrable for ever. Aiatilda held
down her head, and replied; I hope my. dear -^
eft Ijabella does not doubt her Matildas friend-
fhip : I never beheld that youth until yefterday ;
he is almoft a ftran<!er to me : But as the fur*
geons have pronounced your father out of dan-
ger,, you ought not to harbo.uf. uncharitable re-

L fentment

ftittment againft one, who I ani ptrfu^ded did
not know the Marquis was related to you.
You plead his caufe very pathetically, faid Ifa^
heUa^ confidering he is fo much a ftranger to 3^00 f
I am miftaken, or he returns your charity. What
mean yotif faid Matilda, Nothing: Said Ifa^
bellay repenting that (be had given AiattUa a hint
of Theodore* s inclination for her. Then chang-
iiig the difcoiirfe, (he afked Adatildxt what occa«-
fioned Manfred to take Theodore for a fpeftrc?
Blefs me, faid Matilday did not you obferve
his extreme refemblance to the portrait of /^
fonfo in the gallery ? I took notice of it to Bianco
even before I faw him in armour; but with the
helmet on, he is the very image of that pifiure.
I do not muth obferve pidures ; faid Isabella :
Much lefs have I examined this young tilan fo

attentively as you feem to have done ah!

Matilday your heart is in danger but let me

warn you as a friend' — he has owned to- me that
he is in love; it cannot be with you, for yef-
terday was the firft- time you ever met ■ ■ w a*

it

t H7 1

it Hot ? certainly : replied Maii/J3% but why
does my deareft Ifabetta conclude from My thing
I have faid, that — (he paufed — then continuing \
he faw you firft, and I am far from having the
vanity to thinic that my little portion of charms
could engage alieart devoted to you — may you
be happy, Ifahella^ whatever i$ the fate of Ma»

tiUa! My lovely friend, faid Ifabella^ whofe
heart was too honeft to refift a kind cxpreiH-
on, it is you that Thiodore admires ; I faw it ;
I am perfuaded of it ; nor (hall a thought of my
own happinefs fufFer tnt to interfere with yours.
This franknefs drew tears from the gentle Ma-
iildai and jealoufy that for a moment had raifej
a coolnefs between thefe amiable maidens, foon
gave way to the natural fincerity and candour
of their fouls. Each confefTed to the other the
impreflion that Theodore had made on her ; and
this confidence was followed by a ftruggle of
gene^ofity, each infifting on yielding her claim
Jo her friend. At length, the dignity of IfaheU
^s virtue reminding her of the preference which

L 2 Th^edore

fhodore ha3 almoft declared for her rivaf, macfi
her determine to conquer her paifiony and cede
the beloved objefl to her friend.

During this conteft of amity, HippoUta enter-
ed her daughter's chamber. Madam, faid (he
to IfabeUa^ you have fo much tendernefs for
Matilda^ and interefl yourfelf fo kindly in what-
ever afieds our wretchtd houfe, that I can* have
j)0 fecrets with my child, which are not pro-
per for you to hear. The Princefies were all
attention and anxiety. Know then, Madam,
continued HippoUta^ and you, my deareft Ma'
tildoy that being convinced by all the events of
thefe two laft ominous days, that heaven pur-
pofes the fceptre of Otrahto fhould pafs from
Manfred*^ hands into thofe of the Marquis Fre-
ileriCy I have been perhaps infpired with the
thought of averting our total deftrudlion by the
union of our rival houfes. With this vieW I
have been propofing to Manfred my Lord to ten-
der this dear, dear child to Frederic your father
— me toLoid Frederic- cried Matilda — good hea*-

vens ?

[ 549 ]

vens! my gracious mother and have yon

named it to my father ? I have : Said HippoUta:
Be liftcned benignly to my propofal, and is
gone to break it to the Marquis. Ah ! wretch-
ed Princefs ! cried Ifabil!a'\ what haft thou done !
what ruin has thy inadvertent goodnefs been pre-
paring for tbjfcJf, for me, and for Matilda!
Ruin from nw to you and to my child ! faid
Hippolita J what can this mean ? Alas ! faiJ
J^iAella^ the purity of your own heart prevents
your feeing the depravity of others. Manfredp

your Lord^ that impious man ^hold j laid

Hippoliia^ you muft not in my prefence, young
Lady, mention Manfred with difrefpe<£l : He is
my lord and hufband, and — will not long be fo,
faid Ifabella^ if his wicked purpofes can be carrie4
into execution. This language amazes me ^
/aid Hippehta. Your feeling, Ifabelk^^ is warm f
but until this hopr I neyer knew it betray yo;;i
into intemperance. What deed of Manfred au-
thorizes you to treat him as a murderer, an
^iTafSjni? Thou virtuous, and too credulous Prjo-

L 3 cefi> !

[ If^ ]

ccfs f replied Ifahella ; it is npt thy life te aim?
at — it is to feparate himfelf fropi thee ! to di-
vorce thee ! to — to divorce ipc ! to divorce
my mother ! cried Hippolita and Matilda at once
'—•yes; faid Ifabella; an|d to complete his crimei
he meditates--— I cannot fpcak it ! What can
fprpafs what thou hail already uttered ? faid
Matilda. Hippolita was filent. Grief: choaked
her fpeech ; and the recollcftion of Marfred's
late ambiguous difcourfes confirmed what flie
heard. Excellent, dear Lady ! Madam I Mo-
ther I crie^ IJahella^ llinging herfelf at Hip-:
polita^s feet in a tranfport of paffion -, trufi me,
believe me, I will die a thouf^nd deaths fooner
than confent to injure you, than yield Co fo odi-
pus — oh !t— This is too much! cntA HippoHta :
What crimes does one crime fuggeft ! rife, dear
ffabella \ I 'do not doubt your yirtue. Obi Ma^
'tilday t|iis ftroke is too heavy for thee ! weep
pot, my child ; and not a murmur, I charge
thee. Remember, he is thy father flill !- but

jvy are my motljer too $ f^d Matild^ fervently \

and

•• I

[ i5« ]

and you are virtuous, you are guiltlefs !■ Oh 1
ffiuft not I, fiiuft not I complain? You muft
jiot : Said /£/^/i/tf— come, all will yet be well.
Mafredy in the agony for the lofs of thy bro-
ther, knew Aot what he faid : perhaps I/atella
/nifunderftood him: His heart is good — and,
my child, thou knoweft not all I There is a
deftiny hangs over us $ the hand of Providence
is flretched out?— Oh \ could I but fave thee
from the wreck !■ yes, continued ihe in a
firmer tone ; perhaps the facrifice of myfelf may
atone for all^— I will go and offer myfelf to this
<livorce-r-it boots not what becomes of me. I
will withdraw into the neighbouring monaftery,
and wafte the remainder of life in prayers and
tears for my child and: — the Prince! Thoi#
art as much too good for this world, faid I/aT
tilla^ as Manfred is execrable-^ but think not.
Lady, that thy weaknefs (hall determine for
me. I fwear, hear me all ye angels — flop, I
adjure thee ; cried Hippoliia : Remember thou
rfoft not depend on thyfeif j thou haft a father

J. 4 ^my

[ 15^ ]

•^my father is too pious, too noble, intenupted
Tjhbella^ to command an impious deed. But
jlhould he command it; can a father enjoin ^

«

curfed afl ? I was contracted to the fon ? can
I wed ihe father?— — no. Madam, no; force
ihould not drag me to Manfred^ s hated bed. I
loath him, I abhor him : Divine and human
laws forbid — and my friend, my deareft itfe-
i'llda! would I wound her tender foul by injuring
her adored mother? my own mother — I never
have known another — Oh ! (he is the mother of
both ! cried Matilda: Gan we, can we, Ifa*
bella^ adore her too much? My lovely children,
faid the touched Hippclita^ your tendcrneft over-
powers mc — bqt I muft not give way to it. It
is not ours to make eleftion for ourfelves : Hea-
yen, our fathers, and our huftands mufi: decide
for us. Have patience until you hear what
Manfred and Frederic have determined. If the
Marquis accepts Matilda's hand, I know fhe
yf\\\ readily obey. Heaven may interpofe ^nd
prevent the refi. What means my child ? con-

tifiuej

n

. . «

tinued flic, feeing Matilda fall at her feet with 9

flood of fpecchlefs tears but no 5 anfwer

me not, my daughter : I mud not hear a word
againft the picafure of thy father. Oh I doubt
not my obedience, my dreadful obedience to him
and to you ! faid Matilda. But can I, moft re-
fpe£led of women, can I experience all this ten>
dernefs, this world of goodnefs, and conceal a
thought from the beft of mothers ? What art
thou going to utter ? faid Ifabella trembling.
Recolleft thyfelf, Matilda. No, Ifabtlla, faid
the Princcfs, I fliould not deferve this incom-
parable parent, if the inmoft recefles of my foul
harboured a thought without her permiffion— -
nay, I have offended her; I have fuffered a
paffion to enter my heart without her avowal-—

•

but here I difclaim it ; here I vow to heavc^i
and her — My child I my child ! /aid HippoUiay
what words are thefe ! what new calamities has
fate in flore for us ! Thou, a paffion ? Thou,
in this hour of deftruclion — Oh I I fee all my
guilt! feid Matilda, I abhor myfelf, if I coft

[ 154 ]

my mother a pang. She is the dear^ft thing I
have on earth — oh ! I will never, never behol4
him more ! Ifabella^ faid HippoUta^ thou art con-
fcious to this unhappy fecrec, whatever it !$•
Speak — what! cried Matilda^ have I fo for*
feited my mother's love, that {he will not per*
mit me even to fpeak my own guilt ? oh ! wretch*
cd, wretbed Matilda! Thou art too cruel ^
faid Ifabella to HippoUta : Canft thou behold this
anguifli of a virtuous mind, and not commife*
rate it ? Not pity my child ! faid HippoUta^
catching Matilda in her arms-r-Oh ! I know
.{he is good, {he is all virtue, all tendernefs^
and duty. I do forgive thee, my excellent, my
only hope! The PrincelTes then revedled to
HippoUta their mutual inclination for TTjeodore^
and the purpoie of Ifabella to refign him to Ma^
tilda. Hippoliia blamed their imprudence, and
{be\ved them the improbability that either father
would confent to be{low his heirefs on fo poor
a man, though nobly born. Some comfort it
gave her to find their paflion of fo recent a date,

find

X

asd that Tlmbri h^d had but little cauCb to fufr
feSt it in either. She ftridlly enjoined them tq
avoid all correfpondence with him. This Ma-
tUda fervently prmnifcd : But IfahiUay who flat*
tered herfelf that fhe meant no more than tp
promote his union with her friend, could not
determine to avoid him ; and made m r,epiy. I
will go to the convent, faid Hippoltta^ and or-
der new nuiTes to be faid for a deliverance
from thefe calamities. — Qh ! my mother, fai4
Matikhj you mean to quit us: You mean tp
take fandtuary, and to give my father an oppor-
ttunlty of purfuing his fatal intention. Alas !
on my knees I fupplicate you to forbear
will you If^ave me a prey to Frederic? I wilt
follow you to the cofivent— Be at peace, my
child : faid fiippolita : I will return inftantly.
I will never abandon thee^ until I know it is th^
will of heaven, and for thy benefit. Do not
deceive me: faid Matilda, I will not marry
Frederic until thou commanded it.— Alas ! What
4Srill become of me ? Wljy that exclamation ?

faid

[ 156]

fald Hippolita. I have promifed thee to return ;
-^ — ah ! my mother, replied Matilda^ flay :
and fave me from myfelf. A frown from^
thee can ^o more than all my father's feve-
rity. • I have given away my heart, and you
alone can make me recal it. No more: Said.
Hlppolita: thou muft not relapfe, Matilda. I
can quit Theodore^ faid fte, bat muft I wed
another ? let me attend thee to the altar, and
fhut myfelf from the world for ever. Tby fate,
depends on thy father ; faid Hippolita : I have.
ill beftowed my tendernefs, if it has taught thee
to revere aught beyond him. Adieu ! my child ;
1 go to pray for thee.

HippolMs real purpofe was to demand of Je^
romej whether in confcience (he might not con-
fent to the divorce. She had oft urged Man^
fredlo refign the principality, which the deli-
cacy of her confcience rendered an hourly burr
then to her. Thefe fcruples concurred to makf
^t)e fep^ration from her huiband appear lefs

dreai-

E ^57 }

dreadful to her, than it would have fcemeti'
in any other fituation.

ytrome^ at quuting the caftle overnight, bad*
queftioned Theodore fevercly why he had accufed
him to Manfred of being privy to his efcapc.
Theodore owned it had been with defign to pre-
vent Manfred's fufpicion' from alighting on Ma^
tlda ;• and acjded, the holinefs of Jerome^s life
and charadler fecured him from the tyrant's
wrath. JfTome was heartily grieved to difcover
his fon's inclination for that Princefs ; and leav-
ing him to his reft ; promifed in the morning
to acq^uaint him with impoi'tant reafons for con-
quering his paflion. Theodorif like Ifabella^ was
too recently acquainted with parental authority
to fubmit to its decifions againft the impulfe of
his heart. He had little curiofity to learn the
Friar's reafons, and lefs difpofitton to obey
tiiem. The lovely Matilda had made ftronger
impreflions on him than filial aiFedion. Alt
night he pleafed himfelf with vifions of love;
and it was not till late after the morning-ofHce,

• • •

tha«

ftat he rccollefled the Friars comman<is to at-
tend him at Alfonfo\ tomb.

Young man, faid Jeromey when he faw him^
ft IS tardinefs docs not pleafe me. Have a fa-
ther's commands already fo little weight ? Theo-
dore made aukward excufes, and attributed brs
delay to having overflept himlelf. And oti
tvhom were thy dreams employed ? faid the
Friar fternly. His fon blufhed. Come, come,
refumed the Friar, inconlMerate youth, this
mud not be ; Eradicate this^ guilty paffion ffomr
thy brcaft--^guilty paffion \ cried Theodore : Can
guilt dwell with innocent beauty and virtuous
modefty ? It is finful, replied the Friar, to che-
riflx thofe whom heaven has doomed to deffrtic-^
tion. A tyrant's race muft be fwept from the
earth to the third and fourth generation. Will
heaven vifit the innocent for the crimes of the
guilty? faid Theodore. The fair Matilda has
virtues enough — to undo' thee : Interrupted Je-
rome. Haft thou fo foon forgotten that twice'
die favage Manfred has pronounced thy fen-

tencc I

1

[ »59 I

fence? Nor have I forgotteir, Sir, faid Thed»
hre^ that the charity of his daughter delivered
me from his power. I can forget injoiies, but
never benefits. 7'he injuries thou haft received
from Manfred's race, faid the Fnar, are beyond
what thou canft conceive. — Reply not, but vievr
this holy image ! Beneath this marble monu*
ment reft the aflies of the good Alfonfo\ tl
Prince adorned with every virtue : The father
of his people! the delight of mankind ! Kneel,
head-ftrong boy, and lift, while a father un-^
folds a talc of horror, that will expel every
fentiment from' thy foul, but fenfations of fa«
cred vengeance-— iy/^/»/J / much injured Prince !
let thy unlktisfied fhade fit awful on the troubled
air, while thefe tt^embling lips — ha ! who comes
there ?— — .The ihoft wretched of wx)men ! faid
HifpoUtaj entering the choir. Good Father,

art thou at leifure ? but why this kneeling

youth? what means the horror imprinted on
each countenance ? v/hy at this venerable tomb^
--alas! haft thoi* feen aught ? Wewerepour-
2 in^

[ i6o ]

ing fcfnh oxiv orifons to hcaveil, replied the
Friar with fome confufion, to piit an end to ifie
woes of this deplorable province. Join with us.
Lady ! thy fpotlefs foal may obtain an ^xemp*-
tion from the judgments which the portents cf
thefe days but too fpeakingly denounce againft
thy houfe. I pray fervently to heaven to divert
them : faid the pious Princefe. Thou kn6weft
it has been the occupation of my life to wreft a
blefBng for my Lord ahd my harmlefs children-
One alas ! is tak^ir from me ! would htaiven but
hear me for my poor Matilda ! Father ! inter-
tede for her !— EVery heart will blefs her : Cried
^hiodore with rapture — Be dumb, rafli youth ?
•faid Jerome. And thou fond Princefs contend
tiOt with the Powers above ! the Lord giveth*,
and the Lord taketh away: Blefs his holy
name, atid fubmit to his decrees. I do ihofl:
devoutly : Said Hippclita : But will h^ not fpare
my only comfort ? mufft Matilda perifli too ?^-^
ah f Father, I came — but difmifs thy fon. No
ear but thine fnuft hear what I have to utter.

May

f .6. ]

May heaven grant thy every wifli, moft excel-
lent Princefs ! faid Theodore retiring, Jeromi
frowned.

Hippolita then acquainted the Friar with the
propofal fhe had Aiggefted to Manfred^ his ap«
probation of it, and the tender of Matilda that
he was gone to make to Frederic. Jerome could
not conceal his diflike of the motion, which he
covered under pretence of the improbability that
Frederic^ the neareft of blood to Alfonfo^ and
who was come to claim his fucceffion, would
yield to an alliance with the ufurper of his right*
But nothing could equal the perplexity of the
Friar, when Hippoliia confefTed her readinefs
not to oppofe the reparation, and demanded his
opinion on the legality of her acqulefcence*
The Friar catched eagerly at her requeft of his
advice, and without explaining his averfion to
the propofed marriage of Manfred and IfabeUa^
he painted to Hippolita in the mod alarming
Colours the finfulnefs of her confent, denounced
judgments againft her if (he compfied> and en-

M |oinci

»

joined her in the fevered terms to treat anf
fvich proportion with every mark of indignatioa
and relufaL

. Manfred^ in the mean time, had broken bis
purpoie to Frederic^ and propofed the double
marriage. That weak Prinjce^ who had been
ilruck wUh the charms of Al^tild^y Ufiened but
loo eagerly to the offer* He foigol his eomity
to Manfred^ whom he faw bat little hope o£
^ifpoiTeiruig by force -^ and df^^img hknfelf that
no iilue might fucceed from the unii^Q of \A%
daughter >K(itb the Tyrant, be looked upon hi»
own fucceflion to the principality as facilitated
by wedding Matilda. He naade faint oppoCtioa
to the propofal ; aiFe^hg, for form only, not
to aCquiefce unlefs H'tppdlita ihould c;on&nt to
tbe.divorce. Manfred took that upon himielf*
Tranfported with his fuccc&> and impsuient to
fee bimfelf in a lltuation to expe^l foos, he
haftened to his wife's apartment, determined to
extoKt her compliance. He learned with indig-
nation that (he was abfiat at the convent. His

guik

[i63]

guilt ruggefled to him that (he bad prdi^a-
biy been informed by Ifahelh of his purpofe.
He doubted whether her retirement to the con-
vent did not import an intention of remaining
there, until flie could raife obftades to their
divorce s and the fufpicions he had already en-
tertained of Jeronuj made bioi apprehend that
the Friar would not only traverfe his views, but
might have infpired HippoUia with the refolution
of taking fan^tuary. Impatient to unravel thi»
clue, and to defeat its fucceCs, Manfred haftened
to the convent, and arrived there, as the Friar
was earneftly exfaortmg the Princefs never to
yield to the divorce.

Madatn, faid Manfred, what buiinefs drew
70U hither ? why did you not await my return
from the Marquis ? I came to implore a blcf-
iing on your councils : Replied i!///»/^/rAt. My
councils dd not need a* Friar'sint^ervention :
Said JA^/^— —— and of all men living is that
hoary traitor the only one whom you delight to
confoT with ? Profane Prince ! faid Jerome ; is

/ M z it

r 164]

itat the altar that thou chufeft to iitfult the ftr^
yants of the altar ? — buty Manfred^ thy impious
ichemes are known. Heaven and this virtuous
Lady know them— —nay, frown not. Prince.
The church defpifes thy menaces. Her thun-
ders will be heard above thy wrath, • Dare to
proceed in thy curft purpofe of a divorce, until
her fentence be known, and here I lance her
Anathema at thy hesKl. Audaciotts rebel ! faid
Manfred^ endeavouring to conceal the awe with
which the Friar's words infpired hina; Dofi
thou p>refume to threaten thy lawful Prince?
Thou art no lawful Prince; faid Jirome\ thou
art no Prince — go, difcufs thy claim with Fre-
deric ; and when that is done — it is done :
Replied Manfred: Frederic accepts Matilda\
l)and, and is content to wave his claim, unleis
I have no male iflue — as. he fpoke thofe word&
three drops of blood fell fpom the nofe of ^Z-
yi/j/i's ftatue, Manfred turned pale, and the
j^rincefs funk on her knees. Behold I ikid the

Friar; mark this miraculous indication that the

blopd

Mood of AlfunfQ will never mix with that of
Manfred 1 My gracious Lord, faid Hifpolka^
Jet us fubmit curfelves to heaven. Think not
thy ever obedieht wife rebels againfl thy autho-
rity. I have no will but that of my Lord and
the church. To that revered tribunal let us
appeal. It does not depend on us to burft the
bonds that unite us. If the church fliall ap-
prove the diflblution of our marriage, be it fo
—I have but few years, and thofe of forrow to
pafs. Where can they be worn away fo well
» at the foot of this altar, in prayers for tfime *
and MatiWs fafety ? — but thou (halt not remain
here until then : Said Manfred. Repair with me
to the caftle, and there I will advife on the
proper meafures for a divorce; — but this med-
dling Friar comes not thither: My hofpitabic

roof ftiall never more harbour a traitor and

for thy Reverence's offspring, continued he, I
banifli him from my dominions. He, I ween,
is no facred perfonage, nor under the proteflion
of the church. Whoever weds Ifdbella^ it fhaU

M 3 not

[ i66 ]

not be Father Faleonara^ ftarted-up fon. They
ftart up, faid the Friar, who are fuddenly be-
held in the feat of lawful Princes; but thejr
wither away like the grafs, and their place
knows them no more« Manfred cafting a look
of fcorn at the Friar, led Hippolita forth ; but
at the door of the church, whifpered one of his
attendants to remain concealed about the con-
vent, and bring him inftant notice, if any one
from the cafile fhould repair thither.

CHAP. V.

1p VERY reflexion vi\i\Q\i Manfred made oil
the Friar's behaviour, confpired to purfuade
Jiim that Jerome was privy to an amour between
Jfabella and Theodore. But Jerome^s new pre-
furtiption, fo diffonant from his former meek-
nefs, fuggefted ftill deeper apprehenfions. The
Prince even fufpefied that the Friar depended
Oft feme fecfet fupport from Frederic^ whofe ar-
rival

[ i67]

rival coinciding with the novel appearance of
Theodore Teemed to befpeak a correfpondence^
Still more ya^a^ he troubled with the refcmblancc
of Theodore lo jllfonfi's portrait. The latter he
knew had unqueiiioilabiy died without iflue.
Fiederk had confented to beftow Ijabella on him%
Tbefe contradi<Slions agitated his roind with
numberlefs pangs. He faw but two methods cf
extricating himfelf from his difficulties. The
one was to refign his dominions to the Marquis
—Pride, ambition, and his reliance on an«
cient prophecies, which had pointed out a pof*
fibility of his preferving them to his poderityi
combated that thought. The other wa3 ta
prefs his marriage with Ifabclla. After long
ruminating on thefe anxious thoughts, a& he
marched fiiently with Hippol'm to the caftle, he
at laft dircourfcd with that Princefs on the fuh-
jed of his difquiet, and ufed every infinuating
and plaufible argument to extract her confent
to, even her promife of promoting the divorce.
HippoUta needed little pci.fuafion to bend her to

M 4 hi&

[ i68 ]

bis pkafure. She endeavoured to win him over
to the meafure of refigning his dominions ; but
finding her exhortations fruitlefs, (he afliired
him, chat as far as her confcience would allow,
ihe would raife no oppofition to a reparation,
though without better founded fcruples than
what he yet alledged, fhe would not engage to
be zStive in demanding it.

This compliance, though inadequate, was
fufficient to raife Man/red*s hopes. He truiled
that his power and wealth would eafily advance
his fuit at the court of Rfime^ whither he refolv-
ed to engage Frederic to take a journey on pur-
pofe* That Prince had difcovered fo much paf*
fion for Matilda^ that Manfred hoped to obtain
all he wiihed.by holding out or withdrawing his
daughter's charms, according as the Marquis
ihould appear more or lefs dtfpofed to co-operate
in his views. Even the abfence of Frederic
would be a material point gained, until he could
take farther meafures for his fecurity.

DifmiiSng

V

[ i69 I>

DifmiiTmg Hippolita to ber apartment, lie
paired to that of the Marquis ; but croffing the
great hail through which he was to pafs, he
met Bianca. That damfel he knew was in th^
confidence of both the young Ladies. It imme«
diately occurred to him to fift her on the fubje£l
oilfabella and Theodore. CaHing her aftde into
the recefs of the oriel window of the hall, and
foothing her with many fair words and pro-
mifes, he demanded of her whether ihe knew
ought of the fiate of IJahtMz aiFedions. I!

my Lord ! no, my Lord yes, my Lord —

poor Lady ! (he is wonderfully alarmed about
her father's wounds ; but I tell her he will do
well, don't your Highnefs think fo? I do not
aik you replied Manfnd^ what ihe thinks about
her father : But you are in her fecrets : Come,
be a good girl and tell me ; is there any young
man — ha ! — you underdand mc — < — Lord blefs
me! underftand your Highnefs, no, not I: I
told her a few vulnerary herbs and repofe ■■ I
am not talking, replied the Prince impatiently^

abou(

r 170 J

about her father : I know he will do well'
Blefs me, I rejoice to hear your Higbnefs fay
fe ; for though I thought it not right to let my
young Lady defpond, methought his Greatnefs
had a wan look, and a fomething — 1 remember
when young Ferdinand was wounded by the Ve-
mtian Thou anfwereft from the point, in-
terrupted Manfred \ but here, take this jewel,
perhaps that may fix thy attention — nay, no re-
verences} my favour (hall not flop here-—
come, tell me truly ; how ftands Ifabella*s heart.
Well ! your Highnefs has fuch a way ! faid

Bianca — to be fure but can your Highnefs

keep a fecret i if it ihould ever come out of

your lips it (hall not, it fhall not: Cried

Manfred^my^ but fwear, your Highnefs — by
my halidame, if it (hould ever be known that

I faid it why, truth is truth, I do not think

my Lady Ifabella ever much affeSioned my

young Lord your Son yet he was a fwect

. youth as one (hould fee 1 am fure, if 1 had

been a Princefs — ^but blefs me ! I muft attend

my

[ »7J 1

oy Lady Matilda ; file will marvel what i^ be-
come of me-— -ftay ; cried Mfoifredy thou haft
not fatisfied my quefiion. Hail thou ever car*
ried any meflage, any lette r * I ! good gra-
cious ! cried Biama\ I carry a letter ? I would
not to be a Qyeen* I hope your Highners
thinks, though I am poor, I am honeA — did
your Highnefs never hear what Count MarftgU
oiFered me, when he came a wooing to my
Lady Matilda? I have not leifure, faid Man-
fred^ to ]iften to thy tales, I do not queftion
thy honefty : But it is thy duty to conceal no-
thing from me. How long has Ifabella been
acquainted with Theodore? Nay, there is no-
thing can efcape your Highnefs ! fald Bianca-^
not that I know any thing of the matter — Tkeo^
dore, to be fure, is a proper young man, and,
as my Lady Matilda fays, the very image of
good Alfonfo : Has not your Highnefs remarked
it? yes, yes,— no — thou tortureft me: Said
Manfred: Where did they meet? when?— —

who! My Lady Matilda? faid Bianca, No,

no^

t «72 ]

im, not Matilda: IfabeUa\ when did ifabelbt
firft become acquainted with this Theodore? Fir-
gin Mary! faid Biancdj how fhould I know?
Thou doft know; faid Manfred \ and I muft
know;-! will Lord ! your Highnefs is not
jealous of young Theodore! faid Bianca jea-
lous ! no, no: Why fhould I be jealous? —
perhaps I mean to unite them — if I were fure
Ifahella would have no repugnance repug-
nance! no, ril warrant her; faid Bianca ^ he
is as comely a youth as ever trod on Chriftian
ground : We are all in love with him, there is
not a foul in the cafile, but would be rejoiced

to have him for our Prince I mean, when

it (hall pleafe heaven to call your Highnefs to
4tfelf — indeed ! faid Manfred^ has it gone fo
far! oh! this curfed Friar! — but I muft not

lofe time go, BiancOj attend Ifahella ; but I

charge thee, not a word of what has pafled.
Find out how fhe is aiFefled towards Theodore :
bring me good news, and that ring has a com^

panion. Wait at the foot of the winding ftair-

cafe :

[ J73 ]

caf^ : I am going to vifit the Marquis, and will
talk farther with thee at my return.

Manfredy after fome general conveHadon^
delircd Frederic to difmifs the two Knights his
companions, having to talk with him on urgent
affairs. As foon as they weve alone, he began
in artful guife to found (be Marquis on the
fubjedt of Matilda', and finding him difpofed to
his wifh, he let drop hints on the diificultiea
that would attend the celebration of their mar-
riage, unlefs — at that infiant Bianca burft iuto
the room with a wUdncfs in her look and gef-
tures that ij^oke the utmoft terror. Oh! my
Lord, my Lord \ cried ihe ; we are all undone \
it is come again ! it is come again I What i»
come again ! cried Marfred amazed ! — oh ! the
hand ! the Giant ! the hand ! — fupport me ! I
am terrified out of my fenfes : Cried Bianca^ I
will not ileep in the caftlc to-night; where fhaU
I go? my things may come after me to-moF-
fow — would I had been content to wed Fran^
(tfco! this comes of ambition ! What has ter-
rified

C ^74^ J

rified thee tbus^ young woman J faid the Kf ar^
quis: Thou art fafe here; be not alarmed.
Oh ! your Greatnefs is wonderfully good, faid
Biafieaj but I dare not-^no, i^ay, let me go—*
I had rather leave every thing behind me, than
fiay another hour under this roof. Go to, thou
haft loft thy fenfes : Said Manfred. Interrupt
lis not \ we were communing on important
matters — my Lord, this wench is fubjeA to fits

•—come with me, Btanca oh ! the Saints \

no, faid Bimca — for certain it comes to warn
your Highnefsj why fiiould it appear to me
clfe? I fay my prayers morning and evening—*
oh ! if your Highnefs had believed Dieg9! 'Tis
the fame hand that he ikw the foot to in the
gallery- chamber — Father ferome has often tohl
vs the prophecy would be out one of thefe days
^^Biancay faid he, mark my words— -thou
raveft ; faid Manfred in a rage \ be gone, and
keep thefe fooleries to frighten thy conopanions
—-what ! my Lord, cried Sianeay do- you think
I have feett nothing? go to the footf of the
3 great

[ I7J ]

great ftairs yourfelf- as i live I faw it. Sawr

what ? tell us, fair nuid, ii^hat Uhhi hsSk ken :
Said FndirU. Can your Highaeiii lifiea^ £ud
Manfred^ to the deliritua of a ftlly wench, who
has beard ftories of apparitions until flie believes
them f l^his is more tbaa fancy, faid the Mar-
quis ; her terror i$ too lutural and too ftrongty
in5preff(?d to be the work of imagination. Tclt

k
\

US, fair maiden^ what it is has moved thee thus*
Yes, my Lord, thank your Greatncfs; faid

Tiianca — I believe I look very pale; I fhall be

«

bettor when I have recovered myfelf ^I was

going to my Lady Ifabella^s chamber by hid
Highccfs's order — we do not want the circum-
fiances; interrupted Manfred: Since his High-
uefs will have it fo, proceed; but be brief.
Lord ! your Higbnefs thwarts one fo ! replied
iUmca-'^-^^V fear my hair — I arii fure I never in
my life — well ! as I was telling your Greatneis,
1 was going by his Highnefs's order to my Lady
ljaheUa\ chamber : She lies in the watchet-
coloured chamber, on the right-hand, one pair

of

[176]

of ftairs : So when I came to the great ftairs—
I was looking on his Htghnefs's prefent here
grant me patience ! faid Manfred^ will this
wench never come to the point ? what imports
it to the Marquis, that I gave thee a bawble for
thy faithful attendance on my daughter? we
want to know what thou faweft. I was going
to tell your Highnefs, faid Bianca^ if you would
permit me.— — So as I was rubbing the ring — I
am fure I had not gone up three fteps, but I
heard the ratthng of armour; for all the world
fuch a clatter, as Diego fays he heard when the
Giant turned him about in the gallery-chamber
— what does flie mean, my Lord ! faid the Mar-
quis i is youF caflle haunted by giants and gob-
lins ? Lord, what, has not your Greatncfs
heard the ftory bf the Giant in the gallery-
chamber ? cried Bianca. \ maryel his Highncft
has not told you- may bap you do not know
there is a prophecy — This trifling is intolerable;
interrupted Manfred. Let us difmifs this filly
wench, my Lord ? we have more important

afikirs

[ ^17 ]

iiiairs tb dtfctifs. By your favour, faid Fuderic^
thefe are no trifles : The enormous fabre I was
diredled to in the wood, yon cafquej its fellow
•^are thefe vifions of this poor maiden's brain I

' fo Jaquez ihinkf, may it pleafc your Great-

nefs : Said Bianca, He fays this moon will not
be out without our feeing fome ftrange revo-
lution. For my part I (hould not be furprized
if it was to happen to-morrow ; for, as I was
faying, when I heard the clattering of armour,
I was all in a cold fweat«— I looked up, and, if
your Greatnefs will believe me, I faw upon tha
uppermoft banider of the great (lairs a hand in
armour as big, as big — I thought I (hould have

fwooned 1 never flopped until I came hither

•- — would I were well out of this caftlc f My
Lady Matilda told me but yeiler- morning that
her Highnefs HippoUta knows fometl^ing — Thou
art an infolent ! cried Manfred-^'Loxi^ Marquis, it
much mifgives me that this fcene is concerted
to affront me. Are my own domeflics fuborned
tofpread tales injurious to my honour? Purfue

N your

ybur claim by manly daring; of let us htstry our
feuds, as was propofed, by the intermarriage
of our children : But (rufi me, it ill becomes
a Prince of your bearing to pradHce on merce-
nary wenches- 1 fcorn your imputation ; faitf

Frederic: until this hour I never fet eyes on this
damfel : I have given her no jewel !— my Lord^
my Lord, your confcience, your guilt accufesj
you, and would throw the fufpicion on me—
but keep your daughter, and think no more of
Ifahella: The judgments already fallen on your
houfe forbid me matching into it.

Mafifred alarmed at the refolute tone in which
Frederic delivered thefe words, endeavoured to
pacify bim. Difmiiling Biancny he made fuch
fubmiflions to the Marquis, and threw in fuch
artful encomiums on Matilday that Fredirk
was once more daggered. However, a» his
pallion was of fo recent a date, it could not
at once furmount the fcruplcs he had conceived.
He had gathered enough from Biemcah difcourfe
to perfuade him that heaven declared itfelf againft
2 Manjfid*

Mmtfrti, The pfopofed marriages too removed
his claim to a didancei add the principality of
OtraHto was a ftronger temptation, than the
contingent reverfion of it with Mtuilda. Still
he would not abfolutely recede from his engage*
ments; but pitrpofmg to gain time, he demand*
ed ci Manfrtd if it was true in fai^ that Hip*
poKta confented to the divorce. The Prince,
tranfported to find no other obflacle, and de«
pending on his influence over his wife, aflured
the Marquis it was fo, and that he might fa-
tisfy himfelf of the truth from her own mouth.

As they were thus diicourfing, word was
brought that the banquet was prepared. Man-
frtd conduced Frederic to the great hall, where
they were received by mppeliia and the young
Princefles. Manfnd placed the Marquis next to
Matilda^ and feated htmfelf between his wife
and JjabiUa^ HippoUta comported herfelf with an
eafy gravity ; but the young Ladies were fileai
and melancholy. Manfred^ who was determin-
ed to purfue his point with the Marquis in the

N 2 remain-

[ i8o J

remainder of the evening, puihed en tTie fead
until it wax«d late; affecting unreftrained gaietyy
and plying Fnderic with repeated goblets of
wine. The latter, more upon his gnard thaqr
Manfrid wiflied, declined his freq;uent chal-
lenges, on pretence of his late Tofs of blood ;
while the Prince, to rafe his own difordered
fpirits, and to counterfeit unconcern, indulged
himfelf in plentiful draughts, though not to the
intoxication of his fenfes*
* The evening being far advancecf, the banquet
concluded. Manfred would have withdrawn
with Frederic, but the latter pleading weak-
nefs and want of repofe, retired to his chamber,
gatantly telling the Prfnce, that his daughter
fliould amufe his Highnels until* himfelf could
attend him. Manfred accepted the party, and

to the no fmall grief of IfabeBa accompanfed her
to her apartment. Matilda waited on her mo-
ther to enjoy the freflinefs of (he evening on the

f amparts of the cafile*

Soon

[ i8i ]

Soon as the company were difpea-fed their
feveral ways, FrtcUric^ quitting his chamber,
enquired if HippJita was alone, and was told
by one of her attendants,' who had not noticed
her going forth, that at that hour (he gene-
rally withdrew to her oratory, where he pro-
bably would find hen The Marquis during
the repaft had beheld MaiiUa with increafe of
paiSon. He now wifhed to find HippMta in
the difpofition her Lord had promifed. The
portents that had alarmed him, were forgotten
in his defires. Stealing foftly and unobferved
to the apartment of i£^///tf, he entered it with
a refolution to encourage her acquiefcence to
the divorce, having perceived that Manfred was
reiblved to make the poileiSon of IfaheUa an
Ktnalterable condition, before he would grant
Matilda to his wifhes.

The Marquis was not furprized at the filence
that reigned in the Princefs's apartment. Con-
cluding her, as he had been advertized, in
her oratory, he pafled oh^ The door was a*

N 3 jar;

[1.82]

jar ; the cvKtiiog gleomy and overcaft. Puth-*
i;tg open the door gendy, he faw a p^foa
kneeling before the altar. As he tpproached
nearer, it (dtwtd not a woman, but one in a
long woollen weed, whofe back was towards
him. The perfon feemed aUbrbed in prayer.
The Mar^is was about to return, when the
figure rififig, ftood fome mcments fixed ia
meditation, wkhout regarding him. The Mar«
^uis, expediog the holy perfen to com^ forth^
4ind meaning to excufe fats nncivil initcm]pdon»
iaidt reverend Father, I fought the Lady Hip^
poUta'-^-'^^Hippidiia ! replied a hollow voice?
cameft thou to this caftle to feek Hiffoktaf-^
and then the figure, turning flowly round, dif*
covered to Frederic the flefilleis jaws and empty
dockets of a ikdeton, wrapt in a hermit's cowK
Angels of grace, protcft roe ! cried Frederic re-
coiling. Deferve their prote£lion ! faid the
£pe£i:re. Frederic falling on his knees, adjured the
Phantom to take pity on him* Doft thou not
remember me? faid the apparition. Remember

the

^ wood of Jep^ ! Art thou that holjr Her-
jak ? crkd Fniirk trcmbJii^ — can I do

ou^ht for thy eternal peace ? Waft thoit'

4^v^i|ed from boiidage» faid the fpe<3re, to
IHirfiie carnal delights ? Haft thou forgotten the
buried fahre^ and the bebeft of Heaven en«
^9vcn OB it?— —I have not, I have not;
4ud FfeJkru—^\iMX, fay^ Ueft fpirit, jvvhat is
riiy errand to fnc ? wteit ieniain« to be done ?
To forg^ Mfiiilia I biA ^be apparition -^ and
vanUhed.

Frederi^^ blood* froKe in his veins. For fome
fiiiautes he remained motionl€&. Then falling
|>roftrate oa his face before the altar, he be-
ibught ^e interceffion of every faint for pardon.
A Aood of tears fucceeded to this tranfport ; and
tfae.ima^ge of the beauteous Matilda rufhing in
fpite of him on his thoughts, he ]ay on the
ground in a conflict of penitence and paflion,
£'er he couM recover from this agony of \\\s
fpirits, the Princefs HippoUta with a taper in
her hand entered the oratory alone. Seeing a

N.4

wzvt

[ i84 ].

man without motion on the floor, jhe^ave ^
fhriek, concluding him dead. Her fright brought
Frederic to himfclf- Rifing fuddenly, his face
bedewed with tears, he would have ruihed ffom
her prefence; but Hippolita flopping him, con-
jured him in the moft plaintive accents to ex-
plain the caufe of his diforder, and by what
ftrangc chance Ihe had found him there in that
pofture. Ah ! virtuous Princefs ! faid the Mar-
quis, penetratefd wiih grief— and flopped. For
the love of Heaven, my Lord, faid Btppt^ta^
difclofe the caufe of this tranfport !- what mean
thefe doleful founds, this ;ilarming exclama-
tion on ipy name? What woes has heaven ftill
in ftore for the wretched Hrppelita ? t^^-^ yet
filentlrr^by wery pitying angel, I adjure thee,
jttoblc Princp, continued ihp falling at his feet,
§p^i{fiote the purport of what lies at thy heart-r
} fee thou feejeft for me ; thou feeleft the fliarp

pangs that thou inflideftr fpeak for pity ! —

does ought thou Icnowcft concern my child ?—

I canr

[i85 3

I cannot Q)eak; erred Frederic^ burfting from
her— Oh! Matilda I

Quitting the Princefs thus abruptly, he
haflened to his own apartment. At the door of
it he was accofted by Manfred^ who flufhed by
wine and love had come to feck him, and to
propofe to wade fome hours of the night in mufic
and revelling. Fredmc^ offended at an invita-
tion fo diflbnant from the mood of his Pml,
puflied him rudely allde, and entering hb cham-
ber, flung the door intemperately againft Man-^
frid^ and bolted it inwards. The haughty
Prince, enraged at this unaccountable' beha-
viour, withdrew in a frame of mind capable
of the moft fatal exceffes. As he crofied the
court, he was met by the domeftic whom he
had planted at the convent as a fpy on Jeromt
and Theo^e. Thfs man, ^Imoft breathlefs witH
the hade he had made, informed bis Lord, that
Theod^e and fome Lady from' the caftlc were at
that inftant in private conference at the tomb of
/fffonfo in St. Nicholfls's church. He had dogged

Thicdorg

Xbiffifou tliither« but the glpopuncfi of the

had prevented bis diicoveiing who the woman

was.

. Mofifni^ whofe ipiiks were inflamed^ and
whom l^fU bad drivcA from her on his urg-
ing hi^ paffion with tpo little referve^ did not
doubt b^t the inquietude ihe haul expre&d^ had
been occafiooed by her impatience to meet 7&»-
(ktf^ Provoked by this conjadure, aod cn^
i^ged ^ her iath^r^ he hafte^cd iecretly to th#
gceat church. Gliding ibftly between the iflM^
and guided by an imperfeft gleaoi pf mdon^
Ihine that flipne faintly through the illununt«>
cd windows^ he flole towards the tomb of M^
faafu to which he was duefled by .indiftinr£(
whiipers ,of the perbns he fought. The £cft
founds he could diftinguifii were*— —Does it
al^ ! depend on me ? Manfred will nev^^ per-
mit our union* ^No, this fhall prevent it!

cried the tyrant, drawing his dagger^i and
plunging it over her flioulder into the bofom of

(be perfon that fpoke-*— •ah ! me, I am ilain I

«

cried

[ J«7]

cried Maiittk finking ; geod heaven, tecehrc taf
faul ! Savage, ioboman monfter ! what: haft
thou done ! cried Thntbn^ rufliing on him, and
wrenching his dagger from hifn'"*— *Stcip, Aop
thy impious hand I cried Matilda \ it is my fa-
ther! Manfred waking at bom a trance, beat
bis breaft, twifled bis hands in his lotfcs, )ind
eodeavoored to rccorer his dagger from Thetiditft
to di^oh himfelf. Thi^d^i fcarce left diftradedi
and only mafiering the tranfportB of ' his gri^f to
affift Matilda^ bad now by his cries drawn fome
of the monks to his aid. While part of theiH
ecuiexvoured in concert with the affli£)ed Theo-f
d$re to fiop the blood of the dying Ptincefs,'
the reft prcvpmed Manfred from laying violent
bands* on binofelf.

Matilda refigning berfelT patiently to her fate,
acknowledged with looks of grate&il love the
9cal of Theodore^ Yet oft as her faintnefs would
permit her fpecch its way, fhe begged the af-
fiftants l!0 comfort her fathe/« Jetome by thfs
time bad Jearnt the fatal news, and reached tbo

church,

[ 185]

church. His looks Teemed to reproach ThoBme:^
but tttrniag to Manfied^ he faid, now, tyrant f
behold the completion of woe fulfilled on thy im-
pious and devoted head ! The blood of Jlforifi
cried to heaven for vengeance ; and heaven has
permitted its altar to be polluted by affaffinatipn,
that thou mighteft flied thy own blood at the foot
of that Prince's fepulcbre ! -»- Cruel man ! cried
JUatildaj, to aggravate the woes of a parent!
may heaven blefs my father, and forgive him
as I dp ! My Lord, my gracious Sire, doft thou
forgive thy child ! Indeed I came not hither to
meet Theddor0! I found him praying at this tomb^
ivhithcr.my mother fent me to intercede for thee,

for her ^^dcareft father, blefs your child, and

(ay you forgive her — forgive thee ! murderous
nionfter ! cried Manfrei^^^<:zii aflaffins forgive ?
I took thee for Ifabella \ but heaven direAed my
bloody hand to the heart of my .child ! v *j oh!
JkhiiUa-^I cannot utter it-t^anft thou forgive
the blindnefs of rgy rage ! I can, I do ! and
Qiay heaven confirm it ! faid Matilda -^^*-- but

while

[ ig9 I

while I have life to aflc it— Oh! ihy molhcirf
what will fhc feci !— will you comfort hey, itijr
Lord ! will you not put her away ? indeed {h^
loves you-— oh I I am faint \ bear me to th«
caftle — can I live to have hex clofe my eyes f

7heodori and the monks bcfought her earneftly
to fuiFer herftlf to be borne into the convent j
but her inftances were fo preifing to be carried td
the cafile, that placing her on a litter, they con-
veyed her thither as fhe requefied. Theodon fup-
porting her head with his arm, and banging
over her in an agony of defpairing love, ftili en-
deavoured to infpire her with hopes of life. Ji*
rome on the other fide comforted her with dif*
courfes of heaven, and holding a crucifix before
her, which (he bathed with inn^icent tears, pre-
pared her for her paflage to immortality. Man-
fred plunged in the deepeft afflidlion, followed
the litter in defpair.

E'er they reached the cafile, HlppoUia'^ in-
formed of the dreadful cataftrophe, had flown to
meet her mdrdered child: but when ihe faw

the

1 190 ]

the afflicted proceffion, the inightineGs of bef
grief deprived ber of her fcnfes, and Ihe fell life-
lefs to the earth in a fwoon. Ifabella and Fre*
dericy who attended her, were overwhelmed in
almoft equal forrow. Matilda alone feemed in-
fenftble to her own fituation: every thought was
loft in tendernefs for her mother. Ordering the
Utter to ftop) as foon as Hippolita was brought
to herfelf, {be aflced for her father. He ap-
proached) unable to fpeak. Matilda feizing his
hand and her mother's, locked them in her own,
and then clafped them to her heart. Manfnd
could not fupport this a£t of pathetic piety. He
dafhed himfelf on the ground, and curied the
day he was born. IfabeUa^ apprehenfive that
tfaefe ftruggles of paffion were more than Matilda
could fupport, took upon herfelf to order Man*
frcd to be borne to his apartment, while flie

«

caufed Matilda to be conve)rcd to the neareft
chamber. Hippolita^ fcarce more alive than her
daughter, was regardlels of every thing but her:
but when the tender IfaMlah care would- have

likewife

[.191 ]

lii;ewife removed h«f^ while the fiji^eons ex%«
mined JIAiiUkCs wound, (he critd» remove roe !
never ! never \ I Hved but in her, and will en^
pire with her. MetiUa raiftd her eyed at 6er

mother's voice, but clofed them again without
ipeaking. Her finking pulfe and the damp cold-
jnefs of her hand foon difpelled all hopes of reco-
very. Tbtodore followed the furgeons into the
outer chamber, and heard them pronounce the;
fatal fcntence with a tranfport equal to frenzy —
Since file cannot live mine, cried he, at leaft (he
fiiall be mine in death! — Father! Jerome! will
you not join our hands ? cried he to the Friar,
who with the Marquis had accompanied the fur-
geons. What means thy diftra<acd raflinefs?
faid Jiromei is this an hour for marriage I It is,
it is, cried Theodore^ alas ! there is no other !
Younc: man, thou art too unadvifcd : faid Fre^-
deric: Doft thou think we are to liften to thy
fond tranfports in this^ hour of fate? what pre-
tenfions haft thou to tbfe Princefs ? Thofe of a
Prince) K\iTbeodote\ of the foveteign ^(Oirants.

This

T^

%

t J92 1

^hrs reverend msfti, my fathef; has ihrorihed mif
Who I am. Thou raved : faid the Marquis :
there is no Prince of Oiranio but myfelf, now
Man/red by murder, by facrilegious murder, has
forfeited all pretenfions. My Lord^ faid Jerome,
afliiming an air of command^ he tells you true«
It was not my purpofe the fecret ihould have
been divulged fo foon j but fate prefTes onward
to its work* What his hot-headed paflion has
revealed, my tongue confirms. Know, Prince,

that when Alfonfo fet fail for the Holy Land -

is this a feafon for explanations? cried Theodore,
Father, come and unite me to the PrineoTs j ibc
(hall be mine — in every other . thing I will duti-
fully obey you. My life I my adored Matilda!
continued Theodore^ rufliing back into the inner
chamber, will you not be mine i will you not

blefs your Ifabella made iigns to him to be

filenty apprehending the Princefs was near her
end. What is (he dead? cried Theodore*,, is it
poffible? The violence of his exclamations
brought Matilda to herfelf. . Lifting up her eyes,

ihe

.^"^

[ m 1

fhe looked round for her mother*— -Life of my
foul ! I am here : .cried Hippclita ', . think not I

will quit thee ! Oh ! you are too good ; faid
Matilda — but weep not for me, my mother ! I
am going where forrow never dwells— — Ifobella^
thou haft loved me; wot thou not fuf^ly my
fondnefs to this dear, dear woman ? — i^indeed I
am faint ! Oh ! my child ! my child ! faid Kfpo^
lita in a flood of tears, can I not withhold thee a
moment ! — It will not be ; faid -Mz/z^b— com-
mend me to heaven — where is my father? for-

give him, deareft mother forgive him my

death ; it was an error — Oh ! I had forgotten—
deareft mother, I vowed never to fee Theodore
more — ^perhaps that has drawn down this cala-
mity—— but it was not intentional -can you

pardon me ?— — Oh ! wound not my agonizing
foul ! faid HippoUta ; thou never couldft offend
me — alas! fhe faints! help! help! — ^I would
fay fomething more, faid Matilda ftruggling, but

it wonnot be Ifabell a ■ Theodor e ■ for my

fake — Oh ! — ^fhe expired. Ifabella and her wo-

O men

i h4- }

men tore Htppolita from the corfe ; bat TheoAre
threatened deffrucUon to all Who atfemptoi td
remove him from it. He printed a; thouiktid kifie^
on her clay-coId hands, and uttered every expref^
fion that defpairing love could diftate. "-^

IfaieUay in the mean time, was accompany^
jnig the affiiflecf Htppolita to her apartment ; buf,
in the middle of the court, they were met '6y
Mdnfredy who,' diftrafted with his own tliougb^,
and anxious once more to behold hi^ daughtidr,
was advancing to the chamber where (he lay.
As the moon was now at its height, he read^ £n
the countenances of this unbapipy company i&e
event he dreaded. What! is (he dead! cried
he in wild confufion— — a clap of thunder at

•

that inftant fhook the caftle to its fowndations ;
the earth rocked, and the clank of more tnan.

ft

mortal armour was heard behind. Frederic and
'Jerome thought the laft day was at hand. The
latter^ forcing ^Theodore along with them, riifEied
into the court* The moment ^Theodore appeared^
ibe walls of the caftle behind Manfred were

thrown

[ I9S]

thrown down with a mighty fo^ce^ and the
form, of Jffonfo^ dilated to an imofienfe ms^nt-
tud^y speared in the center of the ruins, fie-
liold ifi Theodore the true heir of Aljoufo I faid
the vifion : And having pronounced thofe words,,
accompanied by a clap of thunder^ it afcended
folemnly towards heaven) where the clouds
parting aAinder, the form of St. Nicholas was
tpi^n, and receiving jllfanfo^s (hade, they were
Ipon wrapt from mortal eyes in a blaze of glory^
« Th^ beholders fell proftrate on their faces»
acknowl^ging the divine will. . The firft that
broke fUence was HippoUta. My Lord, faid ibe
|o the defponding Manfred^ behold the vanity
^f human greatnefs ! Conrad is gone ! Matilda
is no mpre ! ip Theodore we view the true Prince
xXOtranto, By what miracle he is fo, I know
not— fufficc it to us, our doom is pronounced !
.pifll we not,, can we but dedicate the few dc^*
|](lorable hours we have to live, in deprecating
the farther wrath of heaven ? heaven ejeSs us
.1^-r— whither c^^n we fly, but to yon holy cells

O a that

I J9t6 I

that yet offer us a retreart ?— — Thoa guBtfcfi
but unhappy woman I unhappy by my erimes f
replied Manfrtd^ my heart at laft ts opeirto thy
devout admonitions* Oh! could — but it can«

not be — ye are loft in wonder let me at laft

^o juftice on myfclf ? To heap fliame on mjr
own head is all the fatisfa£lion I have left to
offer to offended heaven. My ftory has drawa
down theie judgments : Let my confeffion atoae

but ah ? what can atone for ufurpation and
a murdered child ! a child murdered in a con-

fccrated place ! Lift, Sirs, and may this

bloody record be a warning to future tyrants!
Alfonfiy ye all know, died in the holy lancf

y e would interrupt me ; y* would fay he
came not fairly to his end — it is moft true — —
why clfe this bitter cup which Manfred muft
drink to the dregs? Ricardoy my grandfather,
was his chamberlain — I would draw a veil over
my ancettor's crimes — but it is in vain! Alfcnf9
<lied by poifon. A fiaitious will declared i?/-
<«rdo his heir. His crimes purfucd him— yet he

- • loft

I ^97 }

loft no CMTodf n© Afdiilcfa ! I pay the price of
ufurpiicion for alM A ftorm overtook him.
Haunted by his guilt, he vowed to St. Nicholas

9

to (ewnd a church and tvi^o convents, if he lived
to reach Otranta. The facrifice was accepted :
the faint appeared to him in a dream, and pro-
mifed that Ricardo^s poflerity Ihould reign in.
CkrantOy until the rightful ovimer (hould be
grown too large to inhabit .the caftle, and as
long as iflue-male from Ricardo's loins ihould

remain to enjoy it Alas f alas I nor male

nor female, except myfeif, remains of all his

wretched race f I have done — the woes of*

th^fe three days fpcak th« reft. How this young
man can be Alfmfo\ heir, I know not — yet I
do not doubt it. His are thefc dominions; I

rclign them yet I knew not Aifonfo had an

heir— I queftion not the will of heaven — po-
verty and prayer muft fill up the woeful fpace,
until Manfred fliall be fummoned to Ricardo*

What remains, is my part to declare, faid
JerGrru. When jtifin/o fet fail for the holy land,

he

1 198 ]

lie w^ <)riven by a Aorm to the coaft of
The other veflel, which bofe Rieanb and his
train, as your Lordjhip muft have heard, w^
Separated from him. It is moft true, faid Man^
frtd\ and the tide you give me 19 ^ore than
an outcafi caii cbim — well \ be it far-proceed*
yerome blufhed, and cojitinued. For three
months Lord Alfonfo was windrb<|und in Skilf.
T&ere he became* enamoured of :a fair virgin
named Vi£f9ria. He was toot>iou^ tQ teaipt.hcf
to forbidden pleafures* They were. marriedL
Yet deeming this amour incongruous with the
holy vow of arms by which he.was bound, he
determined to conceal their n^tiak* until his
return from the Criifado, when be purpofed to
feek and acknowledge her for his. lawful wife.
He left her pregnant. During his abfehce ihe
"was delivered of a daughter : But fcarce bad fi^
felt a mother's panga^ ere ihe heard the fatal
-rumour of her Lord's death, and the fucoeffion
<kf RicarJo. What could a frtcndlcfs, . helpltefs
ViK)man dor would her teftimony avail?— yet,

my

Itoy Lbrd; t have an authentic writilig — ^it"
needs not; fald Manfred \ the horrors of thcfe
rfays, the vifion we have .but now feen, all cor-
roborate thy evidence beyond a thoufand parch-
ments. Matilda^ death and my cfxpulfion »

Be compofcd, my Lord, faid HippffUta -, this
holy man did not mean to recal your griefs;

Jtrome proceeded.

.? I fliall not dwell on what is nQcdlcfs. The
daughter of which VUima was delivered, was
at' her mattmty beftowed in marriage on mt»
yOfmadiedi and the fecret remained locked itt
jny Iwrcaft* Theodore's narrative has told the reft.
The Friar ecafed. The difconfolate com-
pany retired to the remaining part of the caftie*
la the morning Mainfred figned his abdication
cf ihe principality^ with the approbation of
JTippolita^ and each took on them the habit of
religion in the neighbouring convents* Frederic
offered his daughter to the new Prince, whicli
Jfippdlita's tenderncfs for Ifabella concurred to

promote :

[ 2CO J

promote : But Theodore' % grief was too frefli to
admit the thoughtof another love; and it was

not until after frequent difcourfes with JfaheUa of
his dear Matilda^ that he was pcrfuaded he could

know no happinefs but in the fociety of one
with whom he could for ever indulge the me-
lancholy that had taken pofleiTion of his foul.

FINIS.

JK^ -,-4

[J

}